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wasommmsstfasmamsagnmtmsKm 


THE 

CIVIL  HISTORY 


OF 


CHILI. 


■i««nw»Jii^iinr^im«<uaw&««^iMi;i«r^¿a?a¿k-ygHJaj^ 


THE 

GEOGRAPHICAL, 
NATURAL  AND  CIVIL  HISTORY 

OF 

CHILI. 

BY  ABBE  DON  J.  IGNATIUS  MOLINA. 

ILLUSTRATED    BY    A    HALF-SHEET    MAP   OF   THE  COUNTRY. 

WITH  NOTES 

FROM  THE  SPANISH  AND  FRENCH  VERSIONS, 
AND 

AN    APPENDIX, 

CONTAINING    COPIOUS  EXTRACTS  FROM  THE    ARAUCANA 
OF    DON    AL0N20    DE    ERCILLA. 


TRANSLATED  FROM  THE  ORIGINAL  ITALIAN, 

JSr  AN  AMERICAN  GENTLEMAN. 


IN  TWO  VOLUMES. 

VOL.  II. 


MIDDLETOWA'',  (COAT.Y.) 

PRINTED  FOR  I.  RILEY. 


1808. 


District  of  Nnv-York,  ss. 

Bk  it  remembered,  Tliat  on  the  eleventh  day  of  August,  in  the 
thirty-third  year  of  the  Independence  of  the  United  States  of  America, 
Isaac  Riley,  of  the  said  District,  hath  deposited  in  this  Office  the 
title  of  a  Book,  the  right  wliereofhe  claims  as  Proprietor,  in  the  words 
and  figure  foUow-ing,  to  wit: 

"  The  Geographical,  Natural  and  Civil  History  of  Chili.  By  Abbe 
•*  Don  J.  Ignatius  MoUna.  Illustrated  by  a  half-sheet  Map  of  the  Coun- 
"  try.  With  Notes  from  tlie  Spanish  and  French  versions,  ami  an  Ap- 
"  pendix,  containing  copious  extracts  from  tlic  Araucana  of  Don  Alonzo 
"  de  Ercilla.  Translated  from  the  original  Italian,  by  an  American 
"  Gentleman.     In  two  Volumes." 

Ix  CONFORMITY  to  thc  act  of  the  Congress  of  the  United  States,  en- 
titled "  An  Act  for  the  encouragement  of  I, earning,  by  securing  the 
"  copies  of  Maps,  Charts  and  Books  to  the  Authors  and  Proprietors  of 
"  such  copies,  d\u-ing  the  times  therein  mentioned,"  and  also  to  an  ACt 
entitled  "  An  Act  supplementary  to  an  Act  entitled  an  Act  for  the  en- 
"  couragement  of  Learning,  by  securing  the  copies  of  Maps,  Charts 
"  and  Books  to  the  Autliors  and  Proprietors  of  such  copies,  during  the 
"  times  therein  mentioned,  and  extending  the  benefits  thereof  to  the 
*'  arts  of  designing,  engraving  and  etcliing  Historical  and  other  Prints. 

EDWARD  DUNSCOMB, 
Clerk  of  the  District  of  New-York. 


Ji.  Ji.sop^  Printer^ 
Midcllrtoivn^  Con. 


¡Zù't 
THE  AUTHOR'S  PREFACE. 


FOUR  years  have  elapsed  since  I  promised  to  pub- 
lish the  present  Essay  on  the  Civil  History  of 
Chilly  as  a  contmuation  of  the  one  formerly  written 
on  the  Natural  History  of  that  country.  Engage- 
ments of  this  kind  are,  however,  from  their  nature 
coîiditional.  When  I  undertook  this  work,  it  ivas  in 
full  confidence  of  being  in  a  short  time  in  possession 
of  the  necessary  materials  to  complete  it.  The  frst 
volume  of  the  Abbé  Olivares''  manuscript  I  had 
then  in  my  possession  ;  this,  with  what  works  had 
appeared  in  print,  supplied  me  with  sufficient  docu- 
ments until  the  year  1665  ;  and  I  was  in  constant 
expectation  of  receiving  from  Peru  the  second  volume 
of  the  same  author,  in  which  he  has  brought  the  sub- 
ject down  to  a  late  period. 

In  this  hope  I  was  disappointed.  This  volume,  on 
which  I  had  so  confidently  relied,  I  have  never  re- 
ceived, and  have  been  in  consequence  compelled  to 
seek  from  various  other  sources  the  information 
which  it  would  have  given  tne.  The  wars  of  the 
natives  with  the  Spaniards  being,  hoxvever,  the  only 
proper  subject  of  Chilian  History,  and  but  two  having 
occurred  since  the  above  period,   the  first  in   1722 

and  the  second  m  3  767,  /  have  been  enabled,   by  the 

Vol,  it,  1 


á^  ár>s  M  ¡r*.  í~^.  g~^ 


IV 


aid  of  some  of  my  countrymen  now  in  Italy  who 
recollect  the  principal  events^  to  supply  in  some  mea- 
sure the  want  of  a  regular  detail^  and  to  give  a  suffi- 
ciently accurate  account  of  them.  Having  stated 
these  circumstajices,  I  shall  merely  observe  that^  with- 
out being  influenced  by  national  distiîictioîis  or  pre- 
judices, the  chief  merit  to  which  I  aspire  in  this 
narration  is  that  of  impartiality.  I  have  related  no- 
thing but  what  I  have  either  found  in  those  writers 
upon  Chili  who  have  preceded  me,  or  have  received 
from  persons  of  unquestionable  veracity^  and  have 
thought  proper  to  confine  myself  to  a  plain  narrative 
of  facts,  and  omit  all  reflections  that  might  occur^ 
in  order  not  to  appear  to  be  too  much  influenced  in  fa- 
vour of  either  of  the  contendmg  parties. 

The  attention  of  several  philologists  has  of  late 
years  been  directed  to  the  exaiiúnation  of  the  barba- 
rous languages.  For  this  reason  I  have  been  iiiduced 
to  aîinex  to  this  work  some  remarks  upon  the  Chilian 
tongue,  which,  from  its  structure  and  harmony,  well 
merits  to  be  known.  Several  printed  and  manuscript 
grammars  of  this  language  are  to  be  met  with,  hut 
the  one  which  I  have  principally  used  is  that  of 
Febres.  printed  at  Lima,  hi  the  year  1765,  and  de - 
sei"ving  of  particular  recommendation  for  its  înethod 
and  its  clearness. 


CONTENTS. 


BOOK  I. 

PAGE 

CHAPTER  I. — Of  the  Origin  Appearance  and  Language  of 
the  Chilians,         _  .  -  -  _  -  l 

CHAP.  II,— Conquest  of  the  Peruvians,  -  -  8 

CHAP.  Ill State  of  Chili  before  the  arrival  of  tiie  Spa- 
niards ;  Its  Agriculture  and  Aliment,  -  -  12 

CHAP.  IV, — Political  Establishments  ;  Government  and  Arts,     1 S 

CHAP,  v.— First  Expedition  of  the  Spaniards  in  Chili,     -        26 

CHAP.  VI. — The  Spaniards  return  to  Chili,  under  the  com- 
mand of  Pedro  de  Valdivia  ;  St.  Jago  the  Capital  founded  ; 
Various  Encounters  with  the  Natives  ;  Conspiracy  of  the 
Soldiers  against  the  General,  -  -  -  33 

CHAP.  VII. — The  Copiapins  defeat  a  Body  of  Spaniards  ; 
successful  Stratagem  employed  by  the  Quillotanes  ;  Val- 
divia receives  Reinforcements  from  Peru  ;  He  founds  the 
City  of  Coquimbo,  which  is  destroyed  by  the  Natives  ;  The 
Promaucians  form  an  Alliance  with  the  Spaniai'ds  ;  Foun- 
dation of  the  City  of  Conception,  -  -  -  4G 

BOOK  II. 

CHAP.  I. — Local  Situation,  Character.  Dress  and  Dwellings 
of  the  Araucanians,        -  -  -  -  -  4^^ 

CHAP.  II. — Division  of  the  Araucaniau  State  ;  Its  politic^] 
Form  and  civil  Institutions,        -  -  .  -  55 


VI  CONTENTS. 

PACK 
CHAP.  III. — Military  System  of  the  Araucanians  ;  Their  Arms 

and  Mode  of  nuikiiig  War,         -  -  -  -  61 

CHAP.  IV. — Division  of   the  Spoil;    Sacrifice    after   War; 
Congress  of  Peace,  _  _  -  -  -  70 

CHAP.  V. — System  of  Religion  and  funeral  Ceremonies,  75 

CHAP.  VI. — Division  of  Time;  Astronomical  Ideas;  Mea- 
sures,     ---  .  .  -  -  85 

CHAP.  VII.— RhetoiiÇi^Poetry  ;  Medical  Skill  ;  Commerce 
i)f  the  Araucanians,  _  -  .  -  -         85 

CHAP.  VIII. — Pride  of  the  Araucanians  ;  Kindness  and  Cha- 
"^       rity    towards   each   other  ;  Mode  of  Salutation  ;    Proper 

îsames,  -  _  .  -  _  -  96 

CHAP.  IX. — Matrimony  and.domestic  Employments,      ,f         99 

CHAP    X.— Food  ;  Music  and  other  Diversions,  -  105 

BOOK  111. 

CHAP.  I. — The  Araucanians  under  the  Conduct  of  Aillavilu, 
and  afterwards  of  Lincoyan,  attack  the  Spaniards  ;  Val- 
divia makes  Incursions  into  th.eir  Territory  and  founds 
therein  the  Cities  of  Imperial,  Villarica,  Valdivia  and 
Angol,  with  several  other  Places,         -  -  -  114 

CHiVP.  II. — Caupolican  appointed  Toqui  ;  He  attacks  the 
Forts  of  Arauco  and  of  Tuca¡)el  ;  The  Spanish  Army  en- 
tirely defeated  and  Valdivia  slain,        -  _  -  122 

CHAP.  III. — The  Spaniards  abandon  Puren,  Angol  and  Vil- 
larica .;  Caupolican  )ays  Siege  to  Imijcrial  and  Valdivia  ; 
Lautaro  defeats  the  Spanish  Army  in  Mariguenu,  and 
destroys  Conception,  .  .  _  _  133 

CHAP.  IV. — Villagian  raises  the  Sieges  of  Imperial  and 
Valdivia  ;  The  Small  Pex  breaks  out  among  the  Arauca- 
nians ;  Conc^])lion  having  been  rebuilt,  Lautaro  returns  and 
destroys  it  ;  He  nnrches  againèt  St.  Jago,  and  is  killed,  137 

CHAP.  V. — Don  Garcia  de  Mendoza  arrives  at  Chili,  with  a 
Reinforcement  of  Troops  ;  His  Expedition  against  Cau- 
polican, ._._.-  14? 


CONTENTS.  Vil 

PAGE 

CHAP.  IV. — Don  Garcia  orders  twelve  Ulmenes  to  be 
hanged  ;  He  founds  the  City  of  Cañete  ;  Caupolican,  at- 
tempting to  surprise  it,  is  defeated,  and  his  Army  entirely 
dispersed,  _-_.__  156 

CHAP.  VII. — Expedition  of  Don  Garcia  to  the  Archipelago 
of  Chiloé  ;  Foundation  of  Osorno;  Caupelican  taken  and 
impaled,  -__.__  161 

CHAP.  VIII. — Successes  of  Caupolican  the  Second  ;  Siege  of 
Imperial  ;  Battle  of  Quipeo  fatal  to  the  Araucaniaiis  ; 
Death  of  Caupolican  ;  Termination  of  the  Government  of 
.Don  Garcia,       --  -  -  -  -  167 

BOOK  IV. 

CHAP.  I. — The  Toqui  Antiguenu  recommences  the  War  ; 
His  Successes  against  Francis  Villagran,  the  Governor  ; 
Destruction  ©f  Cañete  ;  Sieges  of  Arauco  and  Conception  j 
Battle  of  the  Bio-bio,  -  -  -  -  176 

CHAP.  II. — Paillataru  elected  Toqui  ;  Government  of  Rode- 
rigo  de  Quiroga  ;  Conquest  of  the  Archipelago  of  Chiloé  ; 
Description  ofthe  Inhabitants,  _  _  _  18S 

CHAP.  III. — Establishment  of  the  Court  of  Royal  Audience  ; 
Government  of  Don  Melchor  Bravo  de  Saravia  ;  Military 
Operations  of  Paillataru  and  his  Successor  Paynenancu  ; 
Supppression  of  the  Court  of  Audience  ;  Second  Govern- 
ment of  Quiroga  ;  Foundation  of  Chilian  ;  Some  Account 
of  the  Pehuenches,       -----  188 

CHAP.  IV. — Government  of  the  Marquis  de  Villahermosa  ; 
His  Successes  against  Paynenancu  ;  Capture  and  Death  of 
that  General  ;  Enterprises  of  the  Toqui  Cayancura,  and  his 
Son  Nangoniel  ;  Landing  of  the  English  in  Chili  ;  Opera- 
tions of  the  Toqui  Cadeguala,  -  -  .  197 

CHAP.  V. — The  Toqui  Guanoalca  takes  the  Forts  of  Puren, 
Trinidad  and  Spirito  Santo;  Exploits  of  the  Heroine 
Janequeo  ;  Battles  of  Mariguenu  and  Tucapel,  -  206 

CHAP.  VI.— The  Toqui  Paillamachu  kills  Loyola  the  Go- 
vernor, and  destroys  all  the  Spanish  Settlements  in  Arau- 
cania,  -  -  ....  314 


VIH  CONTENTS. 

PAGE 

CHAP.  VII.— Second  unfortunate  Goverment  of  Garcia  Ra- 
mon ;  Restoration  of  the  Court  of  Royal  Audience  ;  Ineffec- 
tual Négociation  for  Peace,  -  -  -  225 

CH.\P.  VIII. — Daring  Enterprises  of  the  Toquis  Lienturand 
Putapichion,  .  _  _  -  _  234 

CHAP.  IX. — Continuation  of  the  War  ;  Third  Expedition  of 
the  Dutch  against  Chili  ;  Peace  concluded  with  the  Arau- 
canians  ;  Its  short  Duration  ;  Exploits  of  the  Toqui  Clen- 
taru  ;  Series  of  Spanish  Governors,  to  the  Year  1720,  244 

CHAP.  X. — A  brief  Account  of  the  Wars  of  the  Toquis 
Vilumilla  and  Curignancu  ;  Spanish  Governors  to  the 
Year  1787,         ------  255 

CHAP.  XI.— Present  State  of  Chili,        -  -  -  26S 

An  Essay  on  the  Chilian  Language,  -  -  285 


THE 

CIVIL  HISTORY 


Of 


CHILL 


BOOK  I. 


CHAPTER  I. 

Of  the  Origin^  Appearance  and  Language 
of  the  Chilians. 

1  HE  origin  of  the  primitive  inhabitants  of  Chili, 
like  that  of  the  other  American  nations,  is  involved 
in  impenetrable  obscurity  ;  nor  have  they  any  re- 
cords, or  monuments  of  antiquity,  that  can  serve  to 
elucidate  so  interesting  an  inquiry.  Upon  the  arri- 
val of  the  Spaniards  they  were  entirely  unacquainted 
with  the  art  of  writing,  alid  their  traditionary  ac- 
counts are  so  crude  and  imperfect,  that  they  afford 
not  the  least  degree  of  rational  information  to  the 
inquisitive  mind.  Many  of  the  inhabitants  suppose 
that  they  are  indigenous  to  the  country,  while  others 
derive  their  origin  from  a  foreign  stock,  and  at  one 

Vol.  II.  A 


time  say  that  their  ancestors  came  from  the  north, 
and  at  another  time,  from  the  west. 

It  is  a  general  opinion  that  America  was  settled 
from  the  north-eastern  part  of  Asia,  from  the  sup- 
posed easy  communication  between  them,  in  conse- 
sequence  of  the  vicinity  of  these  countries.  But  the 
opinion  entertained  by  the  Chilians,  that  their  coun- 
try was  peopled  from  the  west,  is  not  so  extravagant 
as  at  first  sight  it  may  appear.     The  discoveries  of 
the  English  navigators  in  the  South  Sea  have  ascer- 
tained that  between  America  and  the  southern  point 
of  Asia  there  is  a  chain  of  innumerable  islands,  the 
probable  remains  of  some  vast  tract  of  land  which, 
in  that  quarter,  once  united  the  two  continents,  and 
rendered  the  communication  between  Asia  and  the 
opposite  shore  of  America  easy.    From  whence  it  is 
very  possible  that,   while  North  America  has  been 
peopled  from  the  north-west,  the  south  has  received 
its  inhabitants  from  the  southern  parts  of  Asia,  the 
natives  of  tliis  part  of  the  new  world  being  of  a  mild 
character,  much  resembling  that  of  the  southern 
Asiatics,  and  litUe  tinctured  with  the  ferocity  of  the 
Tartars.     Like  the  languages  of  the  Oriental  In- 
dians, theirs  is  also  harmonious,    and  abounds  in 
vowels.     The  influence  of  climate  may  undoubtedly 
afllct  language  so  far  as  to  modify  it,  but  can  never 
produce  a  complete  change  in  its  primitive  struc- 
ture. 

The  Chilians  call  their  first  progenitors  Pegni 
Epatun,  which  signifies  the  brothers  Epatim,  but 
of  these  patriarchs  nothing  but  the  name  is  known. 


They  also  cali  them  gli/ce,  primitive  men,  or  men 
from  the  beG-innins",  and  in  their  assembhes  invoke 
them,  together  with  their  deities,  crying  out  with  a 
loud  voice.  Pom,  pum,  piim,  mari.,  mari,  Epunainun, 
Amimalguen,  Peni  Epatum.  The  signification  of 
the  three  first  words  is  uncertain,  and  they  might  be 
considered  as  interjections,  did  not  the  word  pum, 
by  which  the  Chinese  call  the  first  created  man,  or 
the  one  saved  from  the  waters,  induce  a  suspicion, 
from  its  similarity,  that  these  have  a  similar  signifi- 
cation.  The  lamas,  or  priests  of  Thibet,  from  the 
accounts  of  the  natives  of  Indostan,  are  accustomed 
to  repeat  on  theh*  rosaries  the  syllables  horn,  ha,  hum, 
or  Qm,  am,  um^  which  in  some  measure  corresponds 
with  what  we  have  mentioned  of  the  Chilians. 

That  Chili  was  originally  peopled  by  one  nation 
appears  probable,  as  all  the  aborigines  inhabiting  it, 
however  independent  of  each  other,  speak  the  same 
language,  and  have  a  similar  appearance.  Tiiose 
that  dwell  in  the  plains  are  of  good  stature,  but  those 
that  live  in  the  values  of  the  Andes,  generally  sur- 
pass the  usual  height  of  inan.  The  purer  air  which 
they  respire,  and  the  continual  exercise  to  which  the.}- 
are  accustomed  among  their  mountains,  may  per- 
haps be  the  cause  of  this  difference,  by  imparting 
greater  vigour  to  their  frames.  The  features  of  both 
are  regular,  and  neither  of  them  have  ever  discover- 
ed that  capricious  whim,  so  common  to  savages 'of 
both  the  old  and  new  world,  of  attempting  to  im^ 
prove  nature  by  disfiguring  tlicir  faces,  Vv'ith  a  x'iqw 
of  rendering  themselves  more  beautiful  or  moie  lov- 


midtiblc.  Of  course,  M.  Buflxjii  has  been  led  into 
an  error  in  asserting,  in  bis  treatise  on  man,  that  the 
Chilians  are  accustomed  to  enlarge  their  ears. 

Their  complexion,  like  that  of  the  other  Ameri- 
can nations,  is  of  a  reddish  brown,  but  it  is  of  a 
clearer  hue,  and  readily  changes  to  white.  A  tribe 
who  dwell  in  the  province  of  Baroa  are  of  a  clear 
white  and  red,  without  any  intermixture  of  the  cop- 
per colour.  As  they  differ  in  no  oUier  respect  from 
the  other  Chilians,  this  variety  may  be  owing  to  some 
peculiar  influence  of  their  climate,  or  to  the  greater 
degree  of  civilization  which  they  possess  ;  it  is,  how- 
ever, attributed  by  the  Spanish  writers  to  the  pri- 
soners of  that  nation,  who  \\  ere  confined  in  this  pro- 
vince during  the  unfortunate  war  of  the  sixteenth 
century.  But  as  the  Spanish  prisoners  were  equally 
distributed  among  the  other  provinces  of  their  con- 
querors, none  of  whose  inhabitants  are  white,  this 
opinion  w  ould  seem  to  be  unfounded.  Besides,  as 
the  first  Spaniards  who  came  to  Chili  were  all  from 
the  southern  provinces  of  Spain,  where  the  ruddy 
complexion  is  rare,  their  posterity  would  not  have 
exhibited  so  great  a  dift'erencc. 

On  examining  the  harmony  and  richness  of  their 
language,  we  are  naturally  led  to  conclude  that  the 
Chilians  must  hiive,  in  former  times,  possessed  a 
much  greater  degree  of  civilization  than  at  present; 
or,  at  least,  that  they  are  the  remains  of  a  great  and 
illustrious  nation,  ruined  by  some  of  those  physical 
or  moral  revolutions  so  common  to  our  globe. 
The  improvement  and  perfection  of  language  con- 


stantly  follow  the  steps  of  civilization;  nor  can  it  be 
easily  conceived  how  a  nation  that  has  never  emerg- 
ed from  a  savage  state,  that  has  neither  been  po- 
lished by  laws,  by  commerce,  nor  by  arts,  can  pos- 
sess an  elegant,  expressive  and  copious  dialect. 
The  number  of  words  in  a  language  presupposes  a 
correspondent  number  of  ideas  in  the  persons  v.^ho 
speak  it,  and  these  among  a  rude  people  are,  and,  of 
necessity,  must  be  very  limited. 

So  copious  is  the  Chilian  language,  that,  in  the 
opinion  of  rtiose  well  acquainted  with  it,  a  complete 
dictionary  thereof  would  require  more  than  one 
large  volume  ;  for,  besides  the  radical  words,  which 
are  very  numerous,  so  great  is  the  use  of  com- 
pounds, that,  it  may  almost  be  said,  in  this  con- 
sists the  very  genius  of  the  language.  Each 
verb,  either  derivatively  or  conjunctively,  becomes 
the  root  of  numerous  other  verbs  and  nouns,  as  v/ell 
adjectives  as  substantives,  which  in  their  turn  re- 
produce others  that  are  secondary,  modifying  them- 
selves in  a  hundred  different  ways. 

Nor  is  there  any  part  of  speech,  from  which  an 
appropriate  verb  cannot  be  formed  by  the  addition 
of  a  final  7i,  Even  from  the  most  simple  particles 
various  verbs  are  derived,  that  give  great  precision 
and  strength  to  conversation.  But  what  is  truly 
surprising  in  this  language  is 'that  it  contains  no 
irregular  verb  or  noun.  Every  thing  in  it  may  be 
said  to  be  regulated  with  a  geometrical  precision, 
and  displays  much  art  with  great  simplicity,  and  a 
connection  so  well  ordered  and  unvarying  in    its 


grammatical  rules,  which  always  make  the  subse- 
quent depend  upon  its  antecedent,  that  the  the- 
ory of  the  language  is  easy,  and  may  be  readily 
learned  in  a  few  days. 

This  close  analogy  and  regularity,  may  at  a  slight 
view  induce  an  opinion  little  favourable  to  the  capa- 
city of  those  who  formed  or  polished  this  dialect,  as 
the  original  languages,  it  is  well  known,  were  regu- 
lar in  their  rude  and  primitive  state.  But  a  very 
cHfferent  conclusion  will  be  drawn  by  those  who  exa- 
mine its  structure,  and  attend  to  the  extent  and  com- 
plexity of  ideas  necessary  to  have  formed  it,  and  to 
liave  modified  the  words  in  so  many  different  ways, 
without  embarrassing  the  particular  rules. 

The  same  language  also  abounds  with  harmoni- 
ous and  sonorous  syllables,  which  give  it  much 
sweetness  and  variety  ;  this  is,  however,  injured  by 
the  frequent  recurrence  of  the  ii,  a  defect  from  which 
the  Latin  is  by  no  means  exempt.  In  this  respect 
the  latter  has,  however,  been  fortunately  corrected 
in  its  derivatives,  particularly  the  Italian,  which  has 
studied  to  avoid,  especially  in  the  finals,  the  unplea- 
sant sound  resulting  from  the  use  of  that  vowel. 

The  Chilian  differs  from  every  other  American 
language,  not  less  in  its  words  than  in  its  construc- 
tion, with  the  execi)tion  of  from  eighteen  to  twen- 
ty of  PeruA'ian  origin,  which,  considering  the  con- 
tiguity of  tlie  two  countries,  is  not  to  be  wonder- 
ed at. 

But  wliLc  may  appear  much  more  singular  is,  that 
it  contains  words  apparently  of  Greek  and   Latin 


derivation,  and  of  a  similar  signification  in  both 
languages  ;*  I  am  inclined,  however,  to  think  this 
merely  an  accidental  resemblance. 

*  If  this  is  not^  as  our  author  sufifioses^  merely  a  casual  resem- 
blance  of  a  f au  ivords^  ivhich  frequently  occurs  in  languages  ra- 
dically different,  it  certainly  affords  much  ground  for  curious 
sheculation  ;  and  ive  may,  perhaps,  be  led  to  consider  the  tradition 
of  a  Phenician  or  Carthaginian  colony  in  America,  as  not  altoge- 
ther so  destitute  of  probability,  especially,  as  Uie  language  of  the 
Chilians,  so  different  from  that  of  any  other  of  the  American 
tribes,  appears  to  indicate  a  different  07'i gin..,. Amer •  Trans, 


CHAPTER  II. 


Conquest  of  the  Peruvians  in  Chili, 

THE  history  of  the  Chilians  does  not  precede 
the  middle  of  the  fifteenth  century  of  our  era  ; 
before  that  period,  for  want  of  records,  it  is  lost  in 
the  obscurity  of  time.  The  first  accounts  of  them 
are  contained  in  the  Peruvian  annals  ;  that  nation, 
as  they  were  more  civilized,  being  more  careful  to 
preserve  the  memory  of  remarkable  events. 

About  that  time  the  Peruvians  had  extended 
their  dominion  from  the  equator  to  the  tropic  of 
Capricorn.  Chili,  bordering  upon  that  tropic,  was 
too  important  an  acquisition  not  to  attract  the  am- 
bitious views  of  those  conquerors.  This  country, 
which  extends  for  1260  miles  upon  the  Pacific 
Ocean,  enjoys  a  delightful  and  salutary  climate. 
The  vast  chain  of  the  Cordilleras  bordering  it 
upon  the  east,  supplies  it  with  an  abundance  of  ri- 
vers, which  increase  its  natural  fertility.  The  face 
of  the  country,  which  is  mountainous  towards  the 
sea,  and  level  near  the  Andes,  is  well  suited  to 
every  kind  of  vegetable  production,  and  abounds 
with  mines  of  gold,  silver,  and  other  useful  metals. 

Favoured  by  the  pleasantness  of  the  country  and 
salubrity  of  the  climate,  the  population  at  this  pe- 
riod may  be  readily  imagined  to  have  been  very  nu- 
merous.    The  inhabitants  were  divided  into  fifteen 


tribes,  or  communities,  independent  of  each  other, 
but  subject  to  certain  chiefs,  called  Ulmenes.  I'hese 
tribes,  beginnih,:^  at  the  north  and  proceeding  to  the 
south,  were  called  Copiapins,  Coquimbancs,  Quil- 
lotanes,  Mapochinians,  Promaucians,  Cures,  Cau- 
ques, Pencones,  Araucanians,  Cunches,  Chilotes, 
Chiquilanians,  Pehuenches,  Puelches  and  liuil- 
liches. 

The  Inca  Yupanqui,  who  reigned  in  Peru  about 
the  year  145G,  being  informed  of  the  natural  ad- 
vantages possessed  by  Chili,  resolved  to  attempt  the 
conquest  of  it.  With  this  view  he  marched  with  a 
powerful  army  to  the  frontiers  of  that  kingdom;  but, 
either  through  apprehension  of  his  personal  safety,' 
or  with  the  view  of  being  in  a  more  favourable  situ- 
ation to  furnish  the  means  of  effecting  his  designs, 
he  established  himself  with  his  court  in  the  neigh- 
bouring province  of  Atracama,  and  entrusted  the 
command  of  the  expedition  to  Sinchiruca,  a  prince 
of  the  blood  royal. 

Preceded,  according  to  the  specious  custom  of 
the  Peruvians,  by  several  ambassadors,  and  follow- 
ed by  a  large  body  of  troops,  this  general  subjected 
to  the  Peruvian  government,  more  by  persuasion 
than  by  force,  the  Copiapins,  Coquimbanes,  Quil- 
lotanes  and  Mapochinians.  After  this,  having 
passed  the  river  Rapel,  he  proceeded  to  attack  the 
Promaucians,  who  could  not  be  induced  by  the  per- 
suasions of  the  ambassadors  to  submit  themselves. 
This  nation,  wliose  name  signifies  the  free  dancers, 
from  their  being  much  attached  to  that  diversion, 

Vol.  II.  B 


10 

inhabited  the  delightful  country  lying  between  the 
rivers  Rape!  and  Maule,  and  were  distinguished 
from  all  the  other  tribes  by  their  fondness  for  every 
species  of  amusement.  The  love  of  pleasure  had 
not,  hoMcver,  rendered  them  effeminate  :  they  op- 
posed the  Peruvian  army  with  the  most  heroic  va- 
lour, and  entirely  defeated  it  in  a  battle,  which,  ac- 
cording to  Garcilasso  the  historian,  was  continued 
for  three  days  in  succession,  iu  consequence  of  the 
continued  reinforcements  of  both  parties. 

Tiie  Inca,  on  learning  the  ill  success  of  his  arms, 
and  the  invincible  valour  of  the  Promaucians,  gave 
orders,  that  in  future  the  river  Rapel  should  serve  as 
the  boundary  of  his  dominion  on  that  side.  Garci- 
lasso says,  that  it  was  the  river  Maule,  but  it  is  by 
no  means  probable,  that  the  conquerors  should  be 
comprehended  within  the  territories  of  the  vanquish- 
ed. In  fact,  not  fir  from  the  river  Cuchapoal,  which, 
together  with  the  Tinguiririca,  forms  the  Rapel,  are 
still  to  be  seen  upon  a  steep  hill,  the  remains  of  a 
fort  of  Peruvian  construction,  Avhich  was  undoubt- 
edly built  to  protect  that  part  of  the  frontier  against 
the  attacks  of  the  unconquered  Promaucians. 

Thus  Chili  became  divided  into  two  parts,  the 
one  free,  and  the  other  subject  to  foreign  domi- 
nation. The  tribes,  ^\•ho  had  so  readily  submit- 
ted to  the  Peruvians,  were  subjected  to  an  annual 
tribute  in  gold,  an  imposition  which  they  had  never 
before  experienced.  But  the  conquerors,  whether 
they  dared  not  hazard  the  attempt,  or  were  not  able 
to  eflect  it,  never  introduced  their  form  of  govern- 


11 

ment  into  these  provinces.  Of  course,  tlie  sub- 
jected Chilians  as  well  as  the  free,  preserved  until 
the  arrival  of  the  Spaniards,  their  original  manners, 
which  were  by  no  means  so  rude  as  many  arc  led  to 
imagine. 


12 


CHAPTER  111. 


State  of  Chili  before  the  arrival  of  the  Spaniards. 
Its  agriculture  and  aliment. 

MAN,  in  his  progress  to  the  perfection  of  civil 
life,  passes  in  succession  tliroiigh  four  important 
states  or  periods.  From  a  hunter  he  becomes  a 
shepherd,  next  a  husbandman,  and  at  length  a  mer- 
chant, the  period  which  forms  the  highest  degree 
of  social  civilization.  The  Chilians,  when  they 
were  first  known  to  the  Spaniards,  had  attained  the 
third  state  ;  they  were  no  longer  hunters  but  agri- 
culturists. Reasoning  from  general  principles,  Dr. 
Robertson  has  therefore  been  led  into  an  error  in 
placing  them  in  the  class  of  hunters,  an  occupation 
which  they  probably  never  pursued,  except  on  their 
first  establishment.  Becoming  soon  weary  of  the 
fatigueing  exercise  of  the  chace,  in  a  country  where 
game  is  not  very  abundant,  and  having  but  few  do- 
mestic animals,  they  began  at  an  early  period  to 
attend  to  the  cultivation  of  such  nutritious  plants, 
ns  necessity  or  accident  had  made  known  to  them. 
Thus  were  they  induced  from  the  circumstances  of 
their  situation,  and  not  from  choice,  to  pass  rapidly 
to  tlie  third  period  of  social  life. 

These  plants,  which  have  been  described  in  the 
first  part  of  this  work,  were  the  7naize^  the  magu^ 
tlic  guegeUy    the  tuca,  the  (juinoa,  pulse  of  various 


kinds,  the  patatoe,  the  oxalis  tuberosa^  the  common 
and  the  yellow  pumpkin  or  gourd,  the  Guinea  pep- 
per, the  madi  and  the  great  strawberr}'.  To  these 
provisions  of  the  vegetable  kind,  which  are  far  from 
despicable,  rnay  be  added  the  little  rabbit,  the  Chili- 
heuque,  or  Araucanian  camel,  whose  ficsh  furnished 
excellent  food,  and  ^\  hose  wool  clothing  for  these 
people.  If  tradition  may  be  credited,  they  had  also 
the  hog  and  the  domestic  fowl.  Their  dominion 
over  the  tribe  of  animals  was  not  extended  beyond 
these,  although  they  might  as  readily  have  domes- 
ticated the  guanaco,  a  very  useful  animal,  the 
pudu,  a  species  of  wild  goat,  and  various  birds 
with  which  the  country  abounds. 

However,  with  these  productions,  which  required 
but  a  very  moderate  degree  of  industry,  they  sub- 
sisted comfortably,  and  even  with  a  degree  of  abun- 
dance, considering  the  few  things  which  their  situa- 
tion rendered  necessary. 

To  this  circumstance  is  owing,  that  the  Spa- 
niards, who  under  the  command  of  Almagro  in- 
vaded Chili,  found  upon  their  entering  its  vallies 
an  abundance  of  provisions  to  recruit  themselves 
after  the  hunger  which  they  had  endured  in  their 
imprudent  march  through  the  desarts  bordering 
upon  Peru. 

Subsistence,  the  source  of  population,  being  thus 
secured,  the  country,  as  we  before  remarked,  be- 
came rapidly  peopled  under  the  influence  of  so  mild 
a  climate  ■;  whence  it  appears,  that  the  first  writers 
who  treated  of  Chili  cannot  have  greatly  exaggerat- 
(hI  in  saying  that  the  Spaniards  found  it  filled  with 


14 

inhabitants.  It  is  a  fact  that  there  was  but  one  lan- 
guage spoken  throughout  the  country  ;  a  proof 
that  these  tribes  M^ere  in  the  habit  of  intercourse 
with  each  other,  and  were  not  isolated,  or  sepa- 
rated by  vast  desarts,  or  by  immense  lakes  or 
forests,  which  is  the  case  in  many  other  parts  of 
America,  but  which  were  at  that  time  in  Chih,  as 
they  are  now,  of  inconsiderable  extent. 

It  would  seem  that  agriculture  must  have  made  no 
inconsiderable  progress  among  a  people  who  pos- 
sessed, as  did  the  Chilians,  a  great  variety  of  the 
above  mentioned  alimentary  plants,  all  distinguished 
by  their  peculiar  names,  a  circumstance  that  could 
not  have  occurred  except  in  a  state  of  extensive  and 
varied  cultivation.  They  had  also  in  many  parts  of 
the  country  aqueducts  for  watering  their  fields,  which 
were  constructed  with  much  skill.  Among  these, 
the  canal  which,  for  the  space  of  many  miles,  bor- 
ders the  rough  skirts  of  the  mountains  in  the  vicini- 
ty of  the  capital,  and  waters  the  land  to  the  north- 
ward of  that  city,  is  particularly  remarkable  for  its 
extent  and  solidity.  They  were  likewise  acquainted 
with  the  use  of  manures,  called  by  them  vunalti^ 
though  from  the  great  fertility  of  the  soil  but  little 
attention  was  paid  to  them. 

Being  in  Avant  of  animals  of  strength  to  till  the 
ground,  they  were  accustomed  to  turn  it  up  with  a 
spade  made  of  hard  w  ood,  forcing  it  into  the  earth 
with  their  breasts,  but  as  this  process  was  very  slow 
and  fatiguing,  it  is  surprising  that  they  had  not  dis- 
c(ncred  some  other  mode  more  expeditious  and  less 
laborious.     They  at  present  make  use  of  a  simple 


15 

kind  of  plough,  called  chetague,  made  of  the  limb 
of  a  tree  curved  at  one  end,  in  Vs'hich  is  inserted 
a  share  formed  of  the  same  material,  v/ith  a  handle 
to  ffuide  it.  Whether  this  rude  instrument  of  acrri- 
culture,  which  appears  to  be  a  model  of  the  first 
plough  ever  used,  is  one  of  their  own  invention,  or 
was  taught  them  by  the  Spaniards,  is  uncertain  ; 
from  its  extreme  simplicity  I  should,  however,  be 
strongly  induced  to  doubt  the  latter.  Admiral  Spils- 
berg  observes,  that  the  inhabitants  of  Mocha,  an 
island  in  the  Araucanian  Sea,  where  the  Spaniards 
have  never  had  a  settlement,  make  use  of  this  plough, 
drawn  by  two  chilihueques,  to  cultivate  their  lands  ; 
and  Fathers  Bry,  who  refer  to  this  ñict,  add,  that  the 
Chilians,  with  the  assistance  of  these  animals,  tilled 
their  grounds  before  they  received  cattle  from  Eu- 
rope. However  this  may  be,  it  is  certain  that  this 
species  of  camel  was  employed  antecedent  to  that 
period  as  beasts  of  burden,  and  the  transition  from 
carriage  to  the  draught  is  not  difficult. 

Man  merely  requires  to  become  acquainted  with 
the  utility  of  any  object,  to  induce  him  to  apply  it 
by  degrees  to  other  advantageous  purposes. 

It  is  a  generally  received  opinion  that  grain  was 
eaten  raw  by  the  first  men  who  employed  it  as  an  ar- 
ticle of  food.  But  this  aliment  being  of  an  insipid 
taste,  and  difficult  of  mastication,  they  began  to  parch 
or  roast  it  ;  the  grain  thus  cooked  easily  pulverizing 
in  the  hands,  gave  them  the  first  idea  of  meal,  which 
they  gradually  learned  to  prepare  in  the  form  of 
gruel,  cakes,  and  finally  of  bread.  At  the  period  of 
which  we  treat,  the  Chilians  eat  their  o^rain  cooked  ; 


IB 

this  \vns  done  cither  by  boiling  it  in  earthen  pots 
adapted  to  the  purpose,  or  roasting  it  in  hot  sand,  au 
operation  whicli  rendered  it  lighter  and  less  viscous. 
But  not  satisfied  w  ith  preparing  it  in  this  mode, 
wliieh  has  always  been  the  moc,t  usual  among  nations 
emerging  from  the  savage  state,  they  proceeded  to 
make  of  it  two  distinct  kinds  of  meal,  the  parched, 
to  which  they  gave  the  name  oï  înurque^  and  the  raw, 
which  they  called  rugo.  With  the  first  they  made 
gruels,  and  a  kind  of  beverage  which  they  at  present 
use  for  breakfast  instead  of  chocolate  ;  from  the  se- 
cond they  prepared  cakes,  and  a  bread  called  by  them 
couque,  which  they  baked  in  holes  formed  like  ovens, 
excavated  in  the  sides  of  the  mountains  and  in  the 
banks  of  the  rivers,  a  great  number  of  which  are  still 
to  be  seen.  Their  invention  of  a  kind  of  sieve,  cal- 
led c/i/gfiiiruc,  for  sei)arating  the  bran  from  the  flour, 
affords  matter  of  surprise  ;  that  they  employed 
leaven  is,  however,  still  more  surprising,  as  such  a 
discover)-  can  only  be  made  gradually,  and  is  the 
fruit  of  reasoning  or  observation,  unless  they  were 
led  to  it  by  some  fortunate  accident,  which  most 
probably  was  the  case  when  they  first  began  to  make 
use  of  bread. 

From  the  above  mentioned  grains,  and  the  berries 
of  several  trees,  they  obtained  nine  or  ten  hinds  of 
spiritous  liquor,  which  they  fermented  and  kept  in 
eartiien  jars,  as  was  the  custom  with  the  Greeks  and 
Romans.  This  refinement  of  domestic  economy, 
though  not  originating  from  actual  necessity,  appears 
to  be  natural  to  man,  in  whatever  situation  he  is 
found  ;  more  especially  M'hen  he  is  brought  to  live  in 


17 

society  with  his  fellow  men.  The  discovery  of  fer- 
mented liquors  soon  follows  that  of  aliment  ;  and  it 
is  reasonable  to  believe  that  the  use  of  such  beve- 
rages is  of  high  antiquity  among  the  Chilians,  more 
especially  as  their  country  abounds  in  materials  for 
making  them. 


Vol.  il 


18 


CHAPTER  IV. 


Political  Establishments^  Government  and  Arts. 

AGRICULTURE  is  ihc  vital  principle  of  socie- 
ty and  of  the  arts.  Scarcely  does  a  wandering  fami- 
ly, either  from  inclination  or  necessity,  begin  to  cul- 
tivate a  piece  of  ground,  when  it  establishes  itself 
upon  it  from  a  natural  attachment,  and,  no  longer 
relishing  a  wandering  and  solitary  life,  seeks  the  so- 
ciety of  its  fellows,  whose  succours  it  then  begins  to 
find  necessary  for  its  welfare.  The  Chilians,  having 
adopted  that  settled  mode  of  life  indispensable  to  an 
agricultural  people,  collected  themselves  into  fami- 
lies, more  or  less  numerous,  in  those  districts  that 
were  best  suited  to  their  occupation,  where  they  es- 
established  themselves  in  large  villages,  called  caray 
a  name  which  they  at  present  give  to  the  Spanish 
cities,  or  in  small  ones,  which  they  denominated /o'¿;. 
But  tlicsc  accidental  collections  had  not  the  form  of 
the  j)rcscnt  European  settlements  ;  they  consisted 
only  of  a  number  of  huts,  irregularly  dispersed  with- 
in siglit  of  each  other,  precisely  in  the  manner  of 
the  German  settlements  in  the  time  of  Charlemagne. 
Some  of  these  villages  exist  even  at  present  in  seve- 
ral parts  of  Spanish  Chili,  of  which  the  most  consi- 
derable are  Lampa,  in  the  province  of  Saint  Jago, 
and  Lora,  in  that  of  Maule. 


19 

But  as  no  civil  establishment  can  exist  without 
some  form  of  government,  they  had  in  each  village 
or  hamlet  a  chief  called  Ulmeji,  who  in  certain  points 
was  subject  to  the  supreme  ruler  of  the  tribe,  who 
was  known  by  the  same  name.  The  succession  of 
all  these  chiefs  was  established  by  hereditary  right, 
a  custom  that  proves  the  antiquity  of  these  political 
assemblages.  Among  other  savage  nations,  strength, 
skill  in  hunting,  or  martial  prowess,  were  the  first 
steps  to  authority,  and  afterwards  procured  the  regal 
sway  for  those  who  were  invested  with  command. 
But  with  them,  on  the  contrary,  it  would  seem  as  if 
wealth  had  been  the  means  of  exalting  the  ruling  fam- 
ilies to  the  rank  which  they  occupy,  since  the  wordz//- 
men,  unless  taken  in  a  metaphorical  sense,  signifies  a 
rich  man.  The  authority  of  these  chiefs  was  probably 
very  limited,  that  is,  merely  directive,  and  not  coer- 
cive, as  that  of  the  rulers  of  all  barbarous  nations 
has  been,  when  despotism,  favoured  by  propitious 
circumstances,  has  not  effaced  the  ideas  of  absolute 
independence,  which  are  in  a  manner  innate  among 
savages,  as  has  been  the  case  with  the  greater  part 
of  the  nations  of  Asia  and  of  Africa.  From  hence 
it  will  not  be  necessary  to  investigate  the  laws  of 
these  small  societies,  which  were  probably  governed 
only  by  usages  and  customs  that  had  been  introdu- 
ced through  motives  of  necessity  or  convenience. 

The  right  of  private  property  was  fully  establish- 
ed among  the  Chilians.  Each  was  absolute  master 
of  the  field  that  he  cultivated,  and  of  the  product  of 
his  industry,  which  he  could  transmit  to  his  chil- 
dren  by  hereditary  succession.     This  fundamental 


20 

principle  gave  rise  to  the  first  arts,  which  the  wants 
of  nature  and  their  political  constitution  required. 
They  built  their  houses  of  a  quadrangular  form, 
and  covered  the  roof  "with  rushes,  the  walls  were 
made  of  wood  plaistcred  with  clay,  arid  sometimes 
of  brick,  called  by  them  tica  ;  the  use  of  which  they 
doubtless  learned  from  the  Peruvians,  among  whom 
it  was  known  by  the  same  name. 

From  the  wool  of  the  Cliilihueque,  they  manufac- 
tured cloths  for  their  garments  :  for  this  they  made 
use  of  the  spindle  and  distaff,  and  two  kinds  of 
looms  ;  the  first,  called  giiregiie^  is  not  very  unlike 
that  used  in  Europe  ;  the  other  is  vertical,  from 
whence  it  derives  its  name  iithalgue,  from  the  verb 
iithalen^  which  signifies  to  stand  upright.  Their 
language  contains  words  appropriate  to  every  part 
of  these  looms,  and  whatever  relates  to  the  manu- 
facture of  wool.  They  had  likewise  a  kind  of  nee- 
dle to  sew  their  garments,  as  is  obvious  from  the 
\'erb  nudiiven^  to  sew  ;  but  of  what  substance  it  was 
made  I  am  unable  to  determine.  Embroidery,  to 
which  they  gave  the  name  of  dumican,  was  also 
known  to  them. 

From  these  arts  of  the  first  necessity,  they  pro- 
ceeded to  those  of  a  secondary  kind,  or  such  as  were 
required  by  convenience.  With  the  excellent  clay 
of  their  country,  they  made  pots,  plates,  cups  and 
even  large  jars  to  hold  their  fermented  liquors. 
These  vessels  they  baked  in  certain  ovens  or  holes, 
made  in  the  declivity  of  hills.  They  also  made  use 
of  a  mineral  earth  called  co/o,  for  varnishing  their 
vessels.    It  is  very  certain  that  the  art  of  pottery  is 


21 

of  great  antiquity  in  Chili,  as  on  opening  a  large 
heap  of  stones  in  the  mountains  of  Arauco,  an  urn 
of  extraordinary  size  was  discovered  at  the  bottom. 
For  their  vessels  they  not  only  made  use  of  earth,  but 
of  hard  wood,  and  even  of  marble,  and  vases  of  the 
latter  have  been  sometimes  discovered  that  were  po- 
iished  with  the  greatest  perfection. 

From  the  earth  they  extracted  gold,  silver,  cop- 
per, tin  and  lead,  and,  after  purifying,  employed 
these  metals  in  a  variety  of  useful  and  curious 
works,  particularly  the  bell  metal  copper,  which  is 
very  hard  ;  of  this  they  made  axes,  hatchets,  and 
other  edged  tools,  but  in  small  quantities,  as  they 
are  rarely  to  be  met  with  in  their  sepulchres  ; 
where,  on  the  contrary,  hatchets  made  of  a  species 
of  basalt  are  very  frequently  found.  It  is  remarka- 
ble, that  iron,  universally  supposed  to  have  been 
unknown  to  the  American  nations,  has  a  particular 
name  in  the  Chilian  language.  It  is  cciWeà pmii/gue, 
and  the  weapons  made  of  it  chiuçuel,  in  distinction 
from  those  made  of  other  materials,  which  are  com- 
prehended under  the  general  name  of  nulin.  The 
smith  was  called  ruthavé^  from  the  verb  ruthan^ 
which  signifies  to  work  in  iron.  These  circum- 
stances giv^e  rise  to  a  suspicion  that  they  not  only 
were  acquainted  with  this  valuable  metal,  but  that 
they  also  made  use  of  it.  But,  considering  the  si- 
lence of  the  first  writers  upon  America  on  this  sub- 
ject, notwithstanding  the  inferences  that  may  be 
drawn  from  hence,  this  point  must  always  remain 
undecided,  unless  pieces  of  iron  should  be  found  of 
incontcstible  antiquity. 


22 

They  had  also  discovered  the  method  of  making 
salt  upon  the  sea  shore,  and  extracted  fossil  salt 
from  several  mountains  that  abounded  in  that  pro- 
duction. These  the}'  distinguished  by  different 
names,  calling  the  first  chiadi,  and  the  other  /ilco- 
chiadi,  that  is,  salt  of  the  water  of  rocks.  They 
procured  dyes  of  all  colours  for  their  clothe?,  not 
only  from  the  juice  of  plants,  but  also  from  mineral 
earths,  and  had  discovered  the  art  of  fixing  them  by 
means  of  the  polcura,  a  luminous  stone  of  an  as- 
tringent quality.  Instead  of  soap,  the  composition 
of  which  they  had  not  discovered  although  ac- 
quainted with  lie,  they  employed  the  bark  of  the 
quillai  which  is  an  excellent  substitute.  From  the 
seeds  of  the  madi,  they  obtained  an  oil  wliich  is  very 
good  to  eat  and  to  burn,  though  I  am  ignorant  whe- 
ther they  ever  applied  it  to  the  latter  purpose. 

Their  language  contains  words  discriminative  of 
several  kinds  of  baskets  and  mats,  which  they  manu- 
factured from  various  vegetables.  The  plant  culled 
gnocchia  furnishes  them  with  thread  for  their  ropes 
and  fishing  nets,  of  which  tliey  have  tliree  or  four 
kinds.  They  also  make  use  of  baskets  and  hooks 
for  taking  fish,  but  of  what  substance  the  latter  arc 
made  I  am  not  able  to  determine.  The  inhabitants 
of  the  sea  coar>t,  make  use  of  pirogues  of  different 
sizes,  and  floats  made  of  wood,  or  of  seal  skins  sewed 
toçethcr  and  inflated  with  air. 

Although  hunting  was  not  a  principal  occupation 
with  these  people,  yet,  for  amusement,  or  with  the 
view  of  increasing  their  stock  of  provision,  they 
were  accustomed  to  take  such  wild  animals  as  are 


23 

found  in  their  country,  particularly  birds,  of  t\  hidi 
there  are  great  quantities.  For  this  purpose  they 
made  use  of  the  arrow,  of  the  sling,  and  of  the 
laque  or  noose,  already  described  in  the  preceding 
part  of  this  work,  and  of  several  kinds  of  snares  con- 
structed with  much  ingenuity,  known  by  the  gene- 
eral  appellation  of  guaches.  It  is  a  singular  fact, 
that  they  employed  the  same  method  of  taking  wild 
ducks,  in  their  lakes  and  rivers,  as  that  made  use  df 
by  the  Chinese,  covering  their  heads  wâth  perfo- 
rated gourds,  and  letting  themselves  glide  gently 
down  among  them.  These  minutiae  would  perhaps 
be  scarcely  worth  attending  to,  in  an  account  of  the 
manners  and  discoveries  of  a  people  well  known 
for  their  advancement  in  the  arts  of  civilization, 
but  in  the  history  of  a  remote  and  unknown  nation, 
considered  as  savage,  they  become  important  and 
even  necessary  to  form  a  correct  opinion  of  th« 
degree  of  their  progress  in  society. 

With  means  of  subsistence,  sufficient  to  have  pro- 
cured them  still  greater  conveniences  of  living,  it 
would  seem  that  the  Chilians  ought  to  have  pro- 
gressed with  rapid  steps  towards  the  perfection  of 
civil  society.  But  from  a  species  of  inertia,  natural 
%o  man,  nations  often  remain  for  a  long  time  station- 
ary, even  when  circumstances  appear  favourable  to 
their  improvement.  The  transition  from  a  savage 
to  a  social  life  is  not  so  easy  as  at  first  view  may  be 
imagined,  and  the  history  of  all  civilized  nations 
may  be  adduced  in  proof  of  this  proposition. 

The  Chilians  Vv^ere  also  isolated,  and  had  none  of 
those  com*mercial  connections  with  foreigners  which 


24 

are  the  only  means  of  polishing  a  people.  The 
neighbouring  nations  were  in  a  state  of  still  greater 
rudeness  than  themselves,  except  the  Peruvians,  a 
connection  with  Avhom,  from  their  ambition  of  do- 
minion they  would  more  studiously  avoid  than 
cherish.  They  learned,  however,  some  things  from 
them  during  the  time  that  they  were  in  possession 
of  the  northern  provinces,  at  which  period  they  had 
attained  that  middle  point  between  the  savage  and 
civilized  state,  known  by  the  name  of  barbarism. 
Notwithstanding  these  unfavourable  circumstances, 
the  variety  of  their  occupations,  which  multiplied 
the  objects  of  their  attention,  gradually  enlarged  the 
sphere  of  their  ideas. 

They  had  progressed  so  far  in  this  respect,  as  to 
invent  the  numbers  requisite  to  express  any  quan- 
tity, mari  signifying  with  them  ten,  pataca  a  hun- 
dred and  guaranca^  a  thousand.  Even  the  Romans 
possessed  no  simple  numerical  terms  of  greater  va- 
lue, and  indeed  calculation  may  be  carried  to  any 
extent  by  a  combination  of  these  principal  decimals. 

To  preserve  the  memory  of  their  transactions, 
they  made  use,  as  other  nations  have  done,  of  the 
pro7i,  called  by  the  Peruvians  qiiippo^  which  was  a 
skein  of  thread  of  several  colours  with  a  number  of 
knots.  The  subject  treated  of  was  indicated  by  the 
colours,  and  the  knots  designated  the  number  or 
quantity.  This  is  all  that  I  have  been  able  to  dis- 
cover of  the  use  of  such  a  register,  in  which  some 
authors  have  pretended  to  find  a  substitute  for  the 
art  of  writing.  This  admirable  art  was  unknown  to 
the  Chilians;  for  uitiiLiigJi  the  word  chilcan^  to  write, 


25 

is  met  with  in  their  language,  it  was  originally 
nothing  more  than  a  synonym  oï  guirin^  which  sig- 
nifies to  sketch  or  paint.  Of  their  skill  in  this  latter 
art,  I  am  ignorant  ;  but  if  we  may  form  an  opinion 
from  representations  of  men  that  are  cut  upon  certain 
rocks,  we  must  conclude  that  they  were  entirely  ig- 
norant of  it,  as  nothing  coarser  or  more  dispropor- 
tioned  can  be  imagined. 

Far  different  was  the  progress  which  they  made 
in  the  sciences  of  physic  and  astronomy,  it  was  in- 
deed wonderful  ;  but  an  account  of  these,  of  their 
religion,  their  music  and  military  skill,  I  shall 
reserve  till  I  treat  of  the  Araucanians,  who  still 
continue  the  faithful  depositories  of  all  the  science 
and  ancient  customs  of  the  Chilians.  Their  lan- 
guage contains  also  words  indicating  a  knowledge 
of  several  other  arts,  which  I  decline  mentioning,  as 
there  are  no  guides  of  sufficient  accuracy  to  conduct 
our  researches  into  a  subject  so  important,  and  at 
the  same  time  so  doubtful.  The  first  Europeans 
who  visited  these  countries,  attracted  by  other  ob- 
jects of  far  less  interest,  thought  little  or  nothing  of 
those  that  merit  the  attention  of  every  observing 
mind,  on  visiting  an  unknown  people.  From  thence 
it  has  happened  that  their  accounts,  for  the  most 
part,  furnish  us  only  with  vague  and  confused  ideas, 
from  whence  we  can  draw  nothing  but  conjectures. 
The  Chilians,  however,  remained  in  much  the  same 
state  of  society  as  I  have  described,  until  an  unex- 
pected revolution  compelled  them,  in  a  great  mea- 
sure, to  adopt  other  customs  and  other  laws. 

Vol.  II.  D 


26 


CHAPTER  V. 


First  Expedition  of  the  Spaniards  to  Chili. 

FRANCIS  PIZARRO  and  Diego  Almagro  hav- 
ing put  to  death  the  Inca  Atahiialpa,  had  subjected 
the  empire  of  Peru  to  the  dominion  of  Spain.  Pi- 
zarro,  desirous  of  enjoying  without  a  rival  this  im- 
portant conquest,  made  at  their  mutual  expense,  per- 
suaded his  companion  to  undertake  the  reduction 
of  Chili,  celebrated  for  its  riches  throughout  all 
those  countries.  Almagi*o,  filled  with  sanguine 
expectations  of  booty,  began  his  march  for  that  ter- 
ritory in  the  end  of  the  year  1535,  with  an  army  com- 
posed of  570  Spaniards  and  15,000  Peruvians,  under 
the  command  of  Paullu^  the  brother  of  the  Inca 
Manco,  the  nominal  Emperor  of  Peru,  who  had  suc- 
ceeded the  unfortunate  Atahualpa. 

T\vo  roads  lead  from  Peru  to  Chili  ;  one  is  by 
the  sea  coast,  and  is  destitute  of  water  and  provision  ; 
the  other,  for  a  distance  of  120  miles,  passes  over 
the  inmiensc  mountains  of  the  Andes.  This  last  Al- 
magro took,  for  no  other  reason  but  because  it  was 
the  shortest.  His  army,  after  having  been  exposed 
to  infinite  fatigue,  and  many  conflicts  with  the  adjoin- 
ing savages,  reached  the  Cordilleras  just  at  the  com- 
mencement of  winter,  destitute  of  provisions,  and 
but  ill  supplied  with  clothing.  In  this  season  the 
snow  ialls  almost  continually,  and  completely  covers 


27 

tlie  few  paths  that  are  passable  in  summer.  Not- 
Avithstanding,  the  soldiers,  encouraged  by  their  gen- 
eral, who  had  no  idea  of  the  danger  of  the  passage, 
advanced  with  much  toil  to  the  top  of  those  rugged 
heights.  But,  victims  to  the  severity  of  the  weather, 
150  Spaniards  there  perished,  with  10,000  Peru- 
vians, who,  being  accustomed  to  the  warmth  of  the 
torrid  zone,  were  less  able  to  endure  the  rigours  of 
the  frost. 

The  historians  who  have  given  an  account  of  this 
unfortunate  expedition  concur  in  saying,  that  of  all 
this  army  not  one  would  have  escaped  with  life,  had 
not  Almagro,  resolutely  pushing  forward  with  a  few 
horse,  sent  them  timely  succours  and  provisions, 
which  were  found  in  abundance  in  Copiapo.  Those 
of  the  most  robust  constitutions,  v/ho  were  able 
to  resist  the  inclemency  of  the  season,  by  this  un- 
expected aid  were  enabled  to  exti'icate  themselves 
from  the  snow,  and  at  length  reached  the  plains  of 
that  province,  which  is  the  first  in  Chili,  where 
through  respect  for  the  Peruvians  they  were  well 
received  and  entertained  by  the  inhabitants. 

The  Inca  Paullu,  who  was  well  acquainted  with 
the  object  of  the  expedition,  thought  that  nothing 
would  contribute  more  to  raise  the  spirits  of  his  de- 
jected friends,  than  by  letting  them  know  the  im- 
portance of  their  conquest.  With  this  intent,  he 
obliged  the  peasants  to  deliver  up  to  him  all  the  gold 
in  their  possession,  and  having  by  this  means  collect- 
ed 500,000  ducats,  he  presented  them  to  Almagro. 
The  Spaniard  was  so  highly  pleased,  that  he  distri- 
buted the  whole  among  his  soldiers,  to  whom  he  also 


26 

remitted  the  debts  they  owed  him  for  the  'miníense 
sums  of  money  that  he  hud  advanced  for  the  prepa- 
ration of  the  enterprizc.  Being  persuaded  that  in  a 
short  time  he  should  have  all  the  gold  of  the  country 
at  his  disposal,  he  sought  by  this  display  of  liberality 
to  maintain  the  reputation  of  being  generous,  which 
he  had  acquired  in  Peru  by  his  profuse  lavishnient 
of  the  treasures  of  its  sovereigns. 

While  Almagro  remained  in  CopinjiO,  he  disco- 
vered that  the  reignhîg  Ulmén  had  usurped  the  go- 
vernment in  prejudice  of  his  nephew  and  ward,  who, 
through  fear  of  his  uncle,  had  ficd  to  the  woods, 
pretending  to  be  irritated  at  this  act  of  injustice,  he 
caused  the  guilty  chief  to  be  arrested,  and  calling 
before  him  the  lawful  heir,  reinstated  him  in  the  go- 
vernment with  the  universal  applause  of  his  subjects, 
who  attributed  this  conduct  entirely  to  motives  of 
justice,  and  a  wish  to  redress  the  injured. 

The  Spaniards,  having  recovered  from  their  fa- 
tigues through  the  hospitable  assistance  of  the  Copi- 
apins,  and  reinforced  by  a  number  of  recruits  whom 
Rodrigo  Organe z  had  brought  from  Peru,  com- 
menced their  march  for  the  southern  provinces,  filled 
with  the  most  flattering  hopes,  increased  by  the 
beautiful  appearance  of  the  country,  and  the  nume- 
rous villages  that  appeared  upon  all  sides.  The  na- 
tives crouded  round  them  on  their  march,  as  well  to 
examine  them  nearer,  as  to  present  them  with  such 
things  as  they  thought  would  prove  agreeable  to  a 
people,  who  appeared  to  them  of  a  character  far  su- 
perior to  that  of  other  men. 


29 

111  the  me?.ii  time,  two  soldiers  having  separated 
from  the  army,  proceeded  to  Guaseo,  ^vhere  they 
were  at  first  well  reeeived,  but  were  afterwards  put 
to  death  by  the  inhabitants,  in  consequence,  no  doubt, 
of  some  acts  of  violence,  which  soldiers,  freed  from 
the  controul  of  their  officers,  are  very  apt  to  commit. 
This  was  the  first  European  blood  spilt  in  Chili, 
a  country  afterwards  so  copiously  watered  \^  ith  it. 

On  being  informed  of  this  unfortunate  accident, 
calculated  to  destroy  the  exalted  opinion  which  he 
wished  to  inspire  of  his  soldiers.  Almagro,  having 
proceeded  to  Coquimbo,  ordered  the  Ulmen  of  the 
district,  called  Marcando,  his  brother,  and  twenty 
of  the  principal  inhabitants  to  be  brought  thither, 
all  of  whom,  together  with  the  usurper  of  Copiapo, 
he  delivered  to  the  flames,  without,  according  to 
Herrera,  pretending  to  assign  any  reason  for  his  con- 
duct. This  act  of  cruelty  appeared  to  every  one 
very  extraordinary  and  unjust,  since  among  those 
adventurers  there  were  not  wanting  men  of  sensibili- 
ty, and  advocates  for  the  rights  of  humanity.  The 
greater  part  of  the  army  openly  disapproved  of  the 
severity  of  their  general,  the  aspect  of  whose  affairs 
from  this  time  forward  became  gradually  worse  and 
worse. 

About  this  period,  1537,  Almagro  received  a  con- 
siderable reinforcement  of  recruits  under  Juan  de 
Rada,  accompanied  with  royal  letters  patent,  appoint- 
ing him  governor  of  two  hundred  leagues  of  territory, 
situated  to  the  southward  of  the  government  granted 
to  Francis  Pizarro.  The  friends  whom  he  had  left 
in  Peru,  taking  advantage  of  this  opportunity,  urged 


30 

him  by  private  letters  to  return,  in  order  to  take  pos- 
session of  Cuzco,  which  they  assured  him  was  within 
the  hmits  of  liis  jurisdiction.  Notwithstanding  this, 
inflated  with  liis  new  conquest,  he  pursued  his 
inarch,  passed  the  fatal  Cachapoal,  and,  regardless 
of  the  remonstrances  of  the  Peruvians,  advanced 
into  the  country  of  the  Promaucians. 

At  the  first  sight  of  the  Spaniards,  their  horses 
and  the  thundering  arms  of  Europe,  these  valiant 
people  were  almost  petrified  with  astonishment, 
but  soon  recovering  from  the  effects  of  surprize, 
they  opposed  with  intrepidity  their  new  enemies 
upon  the  shore  of  the  Rio-claro.  Almagro,  despis- 
ing their  force,  placed  in  the  first  line  his  Peruvian 
auxiliaries,  increased  by  a  number  whom  Paullu 
had  drawn  from  the  garrisons;  but  these,  being  soon 
routed,  fell  back  in  confusion  upon  the  rear.  The 
Spaniards,  who  expected  to  have  been  merely  spec- 
tators of  the  battle,  saw  themselves  compelled  to 
sustain  the  A'igorous  attack  of  the  enemy,  and  ad- 
^ancing  with  their  horse,  began  a  furious  battle, 
which  continued  with  great  loss  upon  either  side, 
till  night  separated  the  combatants. 

Although  the  Promaucians  had  been  very  roughly 
handled,  they  lost  not  their  courage,  but  encamped 
in  sight  of  their  enemy,  determined  to  renew  the 
attack  the  next  morning.  The  Spaniards,  howe- 
ver, though  by  the  custom  of  Europe  they  consid- 
ered themselves  as  victors,  having  kept  possession 
of  the  field,  were  very  differently  inclined.  Having 
been  accustomed  to  subdue  immense  provinces  with 
little  or  no  resistance,   they  became  disgusted  with 


31 

an  enterprize,  which  could  not  be  effected  without 
great  fatigue  and  the  loss  of  much  blood,  since,  in 
its  prosecution  they  must  contend  with  a  bold  and 
indépendant  nation,  by  whom  they  were  not  believed 
to  be  immortal.  Thus  all,  by  common  consent, 
resolved  to  abandon  this  expedition  ;  but  they  were 
of  various  opinions  respecting  their  retreat,  some 
being  desirous  of  returning  to  Peru,  while  others 
wished  to  form  a  settlement  in  the  northern  provin- 
ces, where  they  had  been  received  with  such  hos- 
pitality. 

The  first  opinion  was  supported  by  Almagro, 
whose  mind  began  to  be  impressed  by  the  sugges- 
tions contained  in  the  letters  of  his  friends.  He  rep- 
resented to  his  soldiers  the  dangers  to  which  a  settle- 
ment would  be  exposed  in  so  warlike  a  country,  and 
persuaded  them  to  follow  him  to  Cuzco,  where  he 
hoped  to  establish  himself  either  by  favour  or  force. 
His  fatal  experience  of  the  mountain  road,  deter- 
mined him  to  take  that  of  the  sea  coast,  by  which 
he  reconducted  his  troops  with  very  little  loss.  On 
his  return  to  Peru  in  1538,  he  took  possession  by 
surprize  of  the  ancient  capital  of  that  empire  ;  and, 
after  several  ineffectual  négociations,  fought  a  battle 
with  the  brother  of  Pizarro,  by  whom  he  was  taken, 
tried  and  beheaded,  as  a  disturber  of  the  public 
peace.  His  army,  having  dispersed  at  their  defeat, 
afterwards  reassembled  under  the  title  of  the  soldiei's 
of  Chili,  and  excited  new  disturbances  in  Peru,  al- 
ready sufficiently  agitated.  Such  was  the  fate  of 
the  first  expedition  against  Chili,  undertaken  by  the 


32 

best  body  oí'  European  troops  that  had  as  yet  been 
collected  in  those  parts.  The  thirst  of  riches  was 
the  moving  spring  of  the  expedition,  and  the  disap- 
pointment of  their  hopes  of  obtaining  them,  the 
cause  of  its  failure. 


23 


CHAPTER  VI. 


The  Spaniards  return  to  CJiili^  under  the  command 
of  Pedro  de  Valdïvki  ;  St.  Jago  the  capital  founded  ; 
Various  encounters  with  the  natives  ;  Conspiracy 
of  the  soldiers  against  the  general. 

FRANCIS  PIZARRO  having,  by  the  death  of 
his  rival,  obtained  the  absokite  command  of  xhc 
Spanish  possessions  in  South  America,  lost  not  sight 
of  the  conquest  of  Chili,  which  he  conceived  might, 
in  any  event,  prove  an  important  acquisition  to  him. 
Among  the  adventurers  who  had  come  to  Peru 
were  two  officers,  commissioned  by  the  court  of 
Spain,  under  the  titles  of  governor,  to  attempt  this 
expedition.  To  the  first,  called  Pedro  Sanchez  de 
Hoz,  was  committed  the  conquest  of  the  country  as 
far  as  the  river  Maille  ;  and  to  the  other,  Carmargo, 
the  remainder  to  the  Archipelago  of  Chiloé.  Pi- 
zarro,  jealous  of  these  men,  under  frivolous  pretexts 
refused  to  confirm  the  royal  nomination,  and  ap- 
pointed to  this  expedition  his  quarter-master,  Pedra 
de  Valdivia,  a  prudent  and  active  officer,  who  had 
gained  experience  in  the  Italian  war,  and,  what  was 
a  still  greater  recommendation,  was  attached  to  his 
party,  directing  him  to  take  de  Hoz  with  him,  who 
was  probably  more  to  be  feared  than  his  colleague, 
and  to  allow"  him  every  advantage  in  the  partition 
of  the  lands. 

\oh.  IL  D 


34 

This  officer  having  determined  to  establish  a  per- 
manent settlement  in  the  country,  set  out  on  his 
march  in  the  year  1540,  with  200  Spaniards,  and 
a  numerous  body  of  Peruvian  auxiliaries,  accompa- 
nied by  some  monks,  several  women,  and  a  gi'eat 
number  of  European  quadrupeds,  with  every  thing 
requisite  for  a  new  colony.  He  pursued  the  same 
route  as  Almagro,  but  instructed  by  the  misfortunes 
of  his  predecessor,  he  did  not  attempt  to  pass  the 
Andes  until  midsummer.  He  entered  Chili  with- 
out incurring  any  loss,  but  very  different  was  the 
reception  he  experienced  from  the  inhabitants  of  the 
northern  provinces  from  that  which  Almagro  had 
met  with.  Those  people,  informed  of  the  fate  of 
Peru,  and  freed  from  the  submission  they  professed 
to  owe  the  Inca,  did  not  consider  themselves  obli- 
ged to  respect  their  invaders. 

They,  of  course,  began  to  attack  them  upon  all 
sides,  with  more  valour  than  conduct.  Like  barba- 
rians in  general,  incapable  of  making  a  common 
cause  with  each  other,  and  for  a  long  time  accus- 
tomed to  the  yoke  of  servitude,  they  attacked  them 
by  hordes,  or  tribes,  as  they  advanced,  without  that 
steady  firmness  that  characterizes  the  valour  of  a 
free  people.  The  Spaniards,  however,  notwith- 
standing the  ill-combined  opposition  of  the  natives, 
traversed  the  provinces  of  Copiapo,  Coquimbo, 
Quillota,  and  Melipilla,  and  arrived  much  harrassed, 
but  with  litde  loss,  atthat  of  Mapocho,  now  called  St. 
Jago.  This  province,  which  is  more  than  six  hun- 
dred miles  distant  from  the  confines  of  Peru,  is  one 
of  the  most  fertile  and  pleasant  in  the  kingdom.    Its 


35 

name  signifies  "  the  land  of  many  people/'  and  from 
the  accounts  of  the  first  writers  upon  Chili,  its  pop- 
ulation corresponded  therewith,  being  extremely 
numerous.  It  lies  upon  the  confines  of  the  principal 
mountain  of  the  Andes,  and  is  140  miles  in  circum- 
^ference.  It  is  watered  by  the  rivers  Maypo,  Colina, 
Lampa,  and  Mapocho,  which  last  divides  it  into 
two  nearly  equal  parts,  and  after  pursuing  a  subter- 
raneous course  for  the  space  of  five  miles,  again 
shows  itself  with  increased  copiousness,  and  dischar- 
ges its  waters  into  the  Maypo.  The  mountains  of 
Caren,  which  terminate  it  on  the  north,  abound 
with  veins  of  gold,  and  in  that  part  of  the  Andes, 
which  bounds  it  at  the  east,  are  found  several  rich 
mines  of  silver. 

Valdivia,  who  had  endeavoured  to  penetrate  as 
far  as  possible  into  the  country,  in  order  to  render 
it  diificult  for  his  soldiers  to  return  to  Peru,  deter- 
mined to  make  a  settlement  in  this  province  ;  which, 
from  its  natural  advantages,  and  its  remoteness,  ap- 
peai'ed  to  him  more  suitable  than  any  other  for  the 
centre  of  his  conquests.  With  this  view,  having 
selected  a  convenient  situation  on  the  left  shore  of 
the  Mapocho,  on  the  24th  of  February  1541,  he  laid 
the  foundations  of  the  capital  of  the  kingdom,  t© 
which  in  honour  of  that  apostie  he  gave  the  name  of 
St.  Jago.  In  laying  out  the  city  he  divided  the 
ground  into  plats  or  squares,  eacli  containing  4096. 
toises,  a  fourth  of  which  he  allowed  to  every  citi- 
zen, a  plan  which  has  been  pjjrsued  in  the  founda- 
tion of  all  the  other  cities.  One  of  these  plats,  lying 
upon  the  great  square,  he  destined  for  the  cathedral 


36 

find  the  bishop's  palace,  which  lie  intended  to  build 
tlicrc,  and  the  one  opposite  for  that  of  the  govern- 
ment. He  likewise  appointed  a  magistracy,  accord- 
ing to  the  forms  of  S¡?ain,  from  such  of  his  army  as 
were  the  best  qualified,  and  to  protect  the  settlement 
in  case  of  an  attack,  he  constructed  a  fort  upon  a 
hill  in  the  centre  of  the  city,  which  has  since  re- 
ceived the  name  of  St.  Lucia. 

Many  have  applauded  the  discennnent  of  Valdi- 
via, in  liaving  made  choice  of  this  situation  for  the 
seat  of  the  capital  of  the  colony.  But  considering 
the  wants  of  a  great  city,  it  vrould  have  been  better 
placed  fifteen  miles  farther  to  the  south,  upon  the 
Maypo,  a  large  river  w^hich  has  a  direct  communi- 
cation with  the  sea,  and  might  easily  be  rendered 
navigable  for  ships  of  the  largest  size. 

This  city,'  however,  contains  at  presort  (1787) 
more  than  forty  thousand  inhabitants,  and  is  rapidly 
increasing  in  population,  from  its  being  the  seat  of 
government,  and  from  its  gre¿it  commerce  support- 
ed by  the  luxury  of  the  wealthy  inhabitants. 

Meanwhile,  the  natives  saw  with  a  jealous  eye 
this  new  establishment,  and  concerted  measures,  al- 
though late,  for  freeing  themselves  of  these  unwel- 
come intruders.  Valdivia,  having  discovered  their 
intentions  in  season,  confmed  tlie  chiefs  of  the  con- 
spiracy in  the  fortress,  and  suspecting  some  secret 
intelligence  between  them  and  the  neighbouring 
Promaucians,  repaired  with  sixty  horse  to  the  river 
Cachapoal  to  watch  their  movements.  But  this 
measure  was  unnecessary  ;  that  fearless  people  had 
not  the  policy  to  think  of  uniting  w  ith  their  neigh- 


37 

hours  in  order  to  secure  themselves  froin  the  im- 
pending danger. 

The  Mapochinians,  taking  advantage  of  the  de- 
parture of  the  general,  fell  upon  the  colony  with  in- 
conceivable  fury,  burned  the  half- built  houses,  and 
assailed  the  citadel,  wherein  the  inhabitants  had  ta- 
ken refuge,  upon  all  sides.  While  they  defended 
themselves  valiantly,  a  woman,  named  Inez  Suarez, 
animated  with  a  spirit  more  cruel  than  courageous, 
seized  an  axe,  and  beat  out  the  brains  of  the  captive 
chiefs,  who  had  attempted  to  break  their  fciiers  and 
regain  their  liberty. 

The  battle  began  at  day  break,  and  was  continued 
till  night,  while  fresh  assailants,  with  a  firmness 
worthy  of  a  better  ñite,  constantly  occupied  the 
places  of  those  that  were  slain.  In  the  mean  time, 
the  commander  of  the  fort,  Alonzo  Monroy,  found 
means  during  the  confusion  to  dispatch  a  messen  ^ 
ger  to  Valdivia,  vrho  returned  immediately,  and 
found  the  ditch  filled  with  dead  bodies,  and  the  en- 
emy, notwithstanding  the  loss  they  had  sustained, 
preparing  to  recommence  the  combat  ;  but,  joining 
the  beseiged,  he  advanced  in  order  of  battle  against 
their  forces,  which  were  posted  on  the  shore  of  the 
Mapocho.  There  the  battle  was  again  renewed,  and 
contested  with  equal  valour,  but  with  great  disad- 
vantage on  the  part  of  the  nati^'es,  who  were  far  in- 
ferior to  their  enemies  in  arms  and  discipline.  The 
musketry  and  the  horse  made  a  dreadful  slaughter 
among  men,  who  were  armed  only  with  bows  and 
slings  ;  but,  obstinately  contending  with  even  their 
own  impotence,  they  furiously  rushed  on  to  destruc- 


38 

tion  until  wholly  enrccblcd,  and  having  lost  the 
flower  of  their  youth,  they  fled  dispersed  over  the 
plains. 

Yet,  notwithstanding  this  defeat,  and  others  of 
not  less  importance  that  they  afterwards  experienced, 
they  never  ceased,  for  the  space  of  six  years,  until 
their  utter  ruin,  to  keep  the  Spaniards  closely  be- 
seiged,  attacking  them  upon  every  occasion  that  of- 
fered, and  cutting  oif  their  provisions  in  such  a  man- 
ner, that  they  were  compelled  to  subsist  upon  un- 
wholesome and  loathsome  viands,  and  on  the  little 
grain  which  they  could  raise  beneath  the  cannon  of 
the  place.  The  fertile  plains  in  the  neighbourhood 
had  become  desert  and  uncultivated,  as  the  inhabi- 
tants had  destroyed  their  crops  and  retired  to  the 
mountains. 

A  mode  of  life  so  different  from  what  they  ex- 
pected wearied  and  disgusted  the  soldiers,  and  they 
finally  resolved  to  kill  their  general,  whom  they  be- 
lieved obstinately  attached  to  his  plans,  and  to  return 
to  Peru,  where  they  hoped  to  enjoy  more  ease  and 
tranquillity.  This  conspiracy  having  fortunately 
been  discovered  by  Valdivia,  he  began  by  concilia- 
ting the  least  seditious,  which  he  readily  effected, 
as  he  possessed  great  prudence  and  address.  As 
he  had  yet  only  the  title  of  general,  he  assembled 
the  magistracy  of  the  city,  and  persuaded  them  to 
appoint  him  governor.  Invested  with  this  imposing, 
though  less  legitimate  character,  he  punished  with 
death  the  authors  of  the  conspiracy  ;  but  perceiving 
that  this  exertion  of  a  precarious  authority  could  not 
be  productive  of  a  durable  effect,  he  ¡n-udcntly  applied 


39 

himself  to  soothe  these  turbulent  spirits,  and  to  divert 
their  minds  from  such  dangerous  schemes,  by  paint- 
ing to  them  in  seducing  colours  the  happy  prospect 
that  awaited  them. 

Valdivia  had  often  heard  in  Peru  that  the  valley 
of  Quillota  abounded  in  mines  of  gold,  and  imagin- 
ed that  he  might  obtain  from  thence  a  sufficient 
quantity  to  satisfy  his  soldiers.  In  consequence, 
notwithstanding  the  difficulties  with  which  he  was 
surrounded,  he  sent  thither  a  detachment  of  troops, 
with  orders  to  superintend  the  digging  of  this  pre- 
cious metal.  The  mine  that  was  opened  was  so  rich 
that  its  product  surpassed  their  most  sanguine  hopes. 
Their  present  and  past  sufferings  were  all  buried  in 
oblivion,  nor  was  there  one  among  them  who  had  the 
remotest  wish  of  quitting  the  country.  The  go- 
vernor, who  was  naturally  enterprising,  encouraged 
by  this  success,  had  a  frigate  built  in  the  mouth  of 
the  river  Chile,  which  traverses  the  valley,  in  order 
more  readily  to  obtain  succours  from  Peru,  without 
which,  he  was  fully  sensible,  he  could  not  succeçd  in 
accomplishing  his  vast  undertakings. 


40 


CHAPTER  VIL 


TJie  Copiapïns  dtj'eat  a  body  of  Spaniards  ;  Suc- 
cessful stratagem  employed  by  the  Quillofa)2es  ; 
Valdivia  receives  reinforcements  from  Peru  ;  He 
founds  the  city  of  Coquimbo,  tvhich  is  destroyed 
by  the  natives  ;  The  Promaucians  form  a?i  alliance 
with  the  Spaniards;  Fouiidation  of  the  city  of  Con- 
ception, 

IN  the  mean  lime,  as  the  state  of  affah-s  was  ur- 
gent, Valdivia  resolved  to  send  to  Peru  by  land  two 
of  his  eaptains,  Alonzo  Monro}'  and  Pedro  Miranda, 
with  six  companions,  whose  spurs,  bits  and  stirrups 
he  directed  to  be  made  of  gold,  hoping  to  entice, 
by  this  proof  of  the  opulence  of  the  country,  his  fel- 
low citizens  to  come  to  his  assistance.  These  mes- 
sengers, although  escorted  by  thirty  men  on  horse- 
back, who  were  ordered  to  accompany  them  to  the 
borders  of  Chili,  were  attacked  and  defeated  by  a 
hundred  archers  of  Copiapo,  commanded  by  Coteo, 
an  üíñcer  of  the  ulmen  of  that  province.  Of  the 
whole  band  none  escaped  with  life  but  the  two  offi- 
cers, Monroy  and  Miranda,  who  were  brought  co- 
vered with  wouFids  before  the  ulmen. 

Whilst  that  prince,  who  had  resolved  to  put  them 
to  death  as  enemies  of  the  country,  was  deliberating 
on  tlîe  mode,  the  ulmena  or  princess,  his  wife, 
moved  with  compassion  for  their  situation,  interced- 


41 

ed  with  her  husband  for  their  lives,  and  haviniï  ob- 
tained  her  request,  unbound  them  with  her  own 
hands,  tenderly  dressed  their  wounds,  and  treated 
them  like  brothers.  When  they  were  fully  reco- 
vered, she  desired  them  to  teach  her  son  the  art 
of  riding,  as  several  of  the  horses  had  been  taken 
alive  in  the  defeat.  The  two  Spaniards  readily  con- 
sented to  her  request,  hoping  to  avail  themselves  of 
this  opportunity  to  recover  their  liberty.  But  the 
means  they  took  to  effect  this  were  marked  with 
an  act  of  ingratitude  to  their  benefactress,  of  so 
much  the  deeper  dye,  as,  from  their  not  being 
strictly  guarded,  such  an  expedient  was  unne- 
cessary. 

As  the  young  prince  was  one  day  riding  l:)et\veen 
them,  escorted  by  his  archers,  and  preceded  by  an 
officer  armed  with  a  lance,  Monroy  suddenly  at- 
tacked him  with  a  poniard,  which  he  carried  about 
him,  and  brought  him  to  the  ground,  with  Uvo  or 
three  mortal  wounds  ;  Miranda  at  the  same  time 
wresting  the  lance  from  the  officer,  they  forced  their 
way  through  the  guards  who  were  thrown  into  con- 
fusion by  such  an  unexpected  event.  As  they  were 
well  mounted  they  easily  escaped  pursuit,  and  taking 
their  way  through  the  desarts  of  Peru,  arrived  at 
Cuzco,  the  residence  at  that  time  of  Vasca  de  Cas- 
tro, who  had  succeeded  to  the  government  upon  the 
death  of  Pizarro,  cruelly  assassinated  by  the  parti- 
zans  of  Almagro. 

On  being  informed  of  the  critical  situation  of 
Chili,  Castro  immediately  dispatched  a  considerable 
number  of  recruits  by  land  under  the  command  of 

Vol.11.    ,  F 


42 

MoViroy,  who  had  the  good  fortune  to  conceal  his 
march  from  the  Copiapins  ;  and  at  the  same  time 
e^ave  directions  to  Juan  Batista  Pastene,  a  noble 
Genoese,  to  proceed  thither  by  sea  with  a  still 
greater  number.  Valdivia,  on  receiving  these  two 
reinforcements,  which  arrived  nearly  at  the  same 
time,  began  to  carry  his  great  designs  into  execu- 
tion. As  he  had  been  solicitous  from  the  first  to 
have  a  complete  knowledge  of  the  sea  coast,  he  or- 
dered Pastene  to  explore  it,  and  note  the  situation 
of  the  most  important  parts  and  places,  as  far  as  the 
straits  of  Magellan.  On  his  return  from  this  expe- 
dition, he  sent  him  back  to  Peru  for  new  recruits, 
as,  since  the  affair  of  Copiapo,  the  natives  became 
daily  more  bold  and  enterprising. 

Among  others,  the  Quillotanes  had,  a  little  time 
before,  massacred  all  the  soldiers  employed  in  the 
mines.  For  this  purpose  they  employed  the  follow- 
ing stratagem  :  one  of  the  neighbouring  Indians 
brought  to  the  commander,  Gonzalo  Rios,  a  pot  full 
of  gold,  telling  him  that  he  had  found  a  great  quan- 
tity of  it  in  a  certain  district  of  the  country.  Upon 
this  information,  all  were  impatient  to  proceed  thi- 
ther to  participate  in  the  imagined  treasure.  As 
they  arrived  tumultuously  at  the  place  described, 
they  fell  into  an  ambuscade,  from  whence  none  es- 
caped except  the  imprudent  commander  and  a  ne- 
gro who  saved  themselves  by  the  superior  excel- 
lence of  their  horses.  The  frigate  that  was  then 
finished  was  also  destroyed,  being  burned  together 
witli  the  arsenal. 


43 

Valdivia,  on  receiving  advice  of  this  disaster, 
hastened  thither  with  his  troops,  and  having  re- 
venged, as  far  as  in  his  power,  the  death  of  his  sol- 
diers, built  a  fort  to  protect  the  miners.  Being  af- 
terwards reinforced  with  three  hundred  men  from 
Peru,  under  the  command  of  Francis  Villagran  and 
Christopher  Escobar,  he  became  sensible  of  the 
necessity  of  establishing  a  settlement  in  the  northern 
part  of  the  kingdom,  that  might  serve  as  a  place  of 
arms,  and  a  protection  for  the  convoys  that  should 
come  that  way.  For  this  purpose  he  made  choice 
of  a  beautiful  plain  at  the  mouth  of  the  river  Co- 
quimbo, which  forms  a  good  harbour,  where,  in 
1564,  he  founded  a  city  called  by  him  Serena,  in 
honour  of  the  place  of  his  birth  ;  it  is  not,  however, 
known  at  present  by  this  appellation,  except  in  geo- 
graphical treatises,  the  country  name  having  pre- 
vailed, as  is  the  case  with  all  the  other  European 
settlements  in  Chili. 

In  the  ensuing  year  he  began  to  think  of  extend- 
ing his  conquests,  and  for  that  purpose  proceeded 
into  the  country  of  the  Promaucians.  Contempo- 
rary writers  have  not  made  mention  of  any  battle 
that  was  fought  upon  this  occasion  ;  but  it  is  not 
to  be  supposed  that  this  valiant  people  who  had 
with  so  much  glory  repulsed  the  armies  of  the  Inca 
and  of  Almagro,  would  have  allowed  him,  without 
opposition,  to  violate  their  territory.  It  is,  however, 
highly  probable,  that  Valdivia,  in  the  frequent  incur- 
sions which  he  made  upon  their  frontiers,  had  had 
the  art  to  persuade  them  to  unite  with  him  againsi 
the  other  Chilians  by  seducing  promises  ;    a  mean 


44 

that  has  been  employed  by  all  political  conquerors, 
who  liave  ever  availed  themselves  of  the  aid  of  bar- 
barians to  conquer  barbarians,  in  order,  finally,  to 
subjugate  the  whole.  In  fact,  the  Spanish  armies 
have  ever  since  that  period  been  strengthened  by 
Promaucian  auxiliaries,  from  whence  has  sprung 
that  rooted  antipathy,  which  the  Araucanians  prc- 
bcrve  against  the  residue  of  that  nation. 

In  the  course  of  the  year  1546,  Valdivia,  having 
passed  the  Maule,  proceeded  in  his  career  of  vic- 
tory to  the  river  Itata.  While  encamped  there  in  a 
place  called  Quilacura,  he  was  attacked  at  night  by 
u  body  of  the  natives,  Avho  destroyed  many  of  his 
horses,  and  put  him  in  imminent  hazard  of  experi- 
encing a  total  rout.  His  loss  upon  this  occasion 
must  have  been  very  considerable,  since  he  after- 
wards relinquished  his  plan  of  proceeding  farther, 
and  returned  to  St.  Jago.  Perceiving  that  his  ex- 
pected succours  from  Peru,  did  not  arrive,  he  re- 
solved to  go  thither  in  person,  hoping,  by  means  of 
his  activity  and  address,  to  recruit  a  body  of  troops 
sufficient  for  the  subjugation  of  the  southern  provin- 
ces, which  had  shown  tliemselvesthc  most  warlike. 

As  he  was  on  the  eve  of  his  departure,  in  the  year 
1547,  Pastenes  arrived,  but  without  any  men,  and 
brought  news  of  the  civil  \yar  that  had  broken  out 
between  the  conquerors  of  the  empire  of  the  Incas. 
Nevertheless,  persuaded  that  he  might  reap  an  advan- 
tage from  these  revolutions,  he  set  sail  with  Pastene 
for  Peru,  taking  with  him  a  great  quantity  of  gold. 
On  hisarrival,  he  served  in  quality  of  quarter-mastcr- 
general  in  tJie  famous   battle  that  decided  the  fcUe 


45 

of  Gonzalo  Pizarro.  Gasea  the  president,  who  un- 
der the  royal  standard,  had  gained  the  victory, 
pleased  with  the  service  rendered  him  upon  this  oc- 
casion by  Valdivia,  confirmed  him  in  his  office  of 
governor,  and  furnishing  him  with  an  abundance  of 
military  stores,  sent  him  back  to  Chili,  with  two 
ships  filled  with  those  seditious  adventurers,  of 
whom  he  was  glad  of  an  opportunit}^  to  be  disem- 
barrassed. 

In  the  mean  time,  Pedro  de  Hoz,  who,  as  we  have 
already  observed,  had  been  deprived  of  that  share  in 
the  conquest  that  had  been  granted  him  by  the 
court,  and  who  had  imprudently  placed  himself  in 
the  power  of  his  rival,  was  accused  of  wishing  to 
usurp  the  government.  Whether  this  accusation 
was  well  founded,  or  whether  it  was  merely  a  pre- 
text to  get  rid  of  him,  he  was,  in  1546,  publicly  be^ 
headed  by  order  of  Francis  Villagran,  v/ho  acted  as 
governor  in  the  absence  of  Valdivia,  whom  he  pro- 
bably thought  to  please  by  thus  freeing  him  from  a 
dangerous  competitor,  if  he  had  not  even  received 
private  instructions  relative  to  the  business. 

The  Copiapins,  eager  to  revenge  the  murder  of 
their  prince,  killed  about  the  same  time  forty  Spa- 
niards, who  had  been  detached  from  several  squad- 
rons, and  were  proceeding  from  Peru  to  Chili  ;  and 
the  Coquimbanes,  instigated  by  their  persuasion, 
massac  id  all  the  inhabitants  of  the  colony  lately 
founded  in  their  territory,  razing  the  city  lo  its  foun- 
dation. Francis  Agnirre  was  immediately  ordered 
there,  and  had  several  encounters  with  them  with  va- 
rious success.     In  1549  he  rebuilt  the  city  in  a  more 


46 

advantageous  situation  ;  its  inhabitants  claim  him 
as  their  founder,  and  the  most  distinguished  of  them 
boast  themselves  as  his  descendants. 

After  a  contest  of  nine  years,  and  almost  incredi- 
ble fatigues,  Valdivia,  believing  himself  \Mell  estab- 
lished in  that  part  of  Chili  which  was  under  the  do- 
minion of  the  Peruvians,  distributed  the  land  among 
liis  soldiers,  assigning  to  each,  under  the  title  of 
commandery,  a  considerable  portion,  with  the  in- 
habitants living  thereon,  according  to  the  baneful 
feudal  system  of  Europe.  By  this  means,  having 
quieted  the  restless  ambition  of  his  companions,  he 
set  out  anew  on  his  march  for  the  southern  provinces, 
with  a  respectable  army  of  Spanish  and  Promaucian 
troops. 

After  a  journey  of  240  miles,  he  arrived,  without 
encountering  many  obstacles,  at  the  bay  of  Penco, 
which  had  been  already  explored  by  Pastene,  where, 
on  the  5th  of  October,  1550,  he  founded  a  third  city 
called  Conception."* 

The  situation  of  this  place  was  very  advantageous 
for  commerce  from  the  excellence  of  its  harbour, 
but,  from  the  lowness  of  the  ground,  exposed  in 
•arthquakes  to  inundations  of  the   sea.     The  bay, 

*  This  city  was  destroyed  by  the  earthquakes  and  iimndations 
of  the  sea,  that  eccurred  on  tlie  8th  of  July,  1730,  and  the  24th  of 
May,  1751.  For  this  reason  the  inhabitiiuts  established  themselves, 
on  the  24th  of  November,  1764,  in  the  valley  of  Mocha,  three 
leagties  suut.i  of  Penco,  between  the  i-ivers  Andalien  and  Bio-bio, 
where  they  founded  New  Conception.  The  h.v.bour  is  situated  in 
tlic  middle  of  the  bay  called  Talgacuano,  a  little  more  than  two 
leagues  west  of  Moclia  ;  a  fort  is  all  the  building  that  is  now  left 
at  Penco. 


47 

which  is  in  extent  from  east  to  west  six  miles,  and 
nine  from  north  to  south,  is  defended  from  the  sea 
by  a  pleasant  island  called  Quiriquina  ;  the  entrance 
upon  the  north  side,  which  is  half  a  league  broad,  is 
the  only  one  of  sufficient  depth  to  admit  ships  of  the 
line,  the  other  being-  narrow,  and  only  navigable  for 
small  vessels.  The  soil,  under  the  influence  of  a 
favourable  climate,  produces  an  abundance  of  tim- 
ber, minerals,  excellent  wine,  and  all  the  otlier  ne- 
cessaries of  life,  and  the  sea  and  rivers  great  quan- 
tities of  delicate  fish. 

The  adjacent  tribes,  perceiving  the  intention  of 
the  Spaniards  to  Qccupy  this  important  post,  gave  in- 
formation of  it  to  their  neighbours  and  friends,  the 
Araucanians,  who,  forseeing  that  it  would  not  be 
long  before  the  storm  would  burst  upon  their  own 
country,  resolved  to  succour  their  distressed  allies, 
in  order  to  secure  themselves.  But  before  I  proceed 
torcíate  the  events  of  this  war,  1  have  thought  pro- 
per to  give  some  account  of  the  character  and  man- 
ners of  that  warlike  people,  who  have  hitherto,  with 
incredible  valour,  opposed  the  overwhelming  torrent 
of  Spanish  conquest,  and  from  henceforward  will 
furnish  all  the  materials  of  our  historv. 


THE 

CIViL  HiSTORY 


OF 


CHILL 


BOOK  II. 


CHAPTER  I. 

Local  Situation,  Character,  Dress  and  Dwellings  of 
the  Araucanians. 

THE  Araucanians  inhabit  that  delightful  country 
situated  between  the  rivers  Bio-bio  and  Valdivia, 
aiid  between  the  Andes  and  the  sea,  extending  from 
36.  44.  to  :^9.  50.  degrees  of  south  latitude.  They 
derive  their  appellation  of  Araucanians  from  the  pro- 
vince of  Arauco,  which,  though  the  smallest  in  their 
territory,  has,  like  Holland,  given  its  name  to  the 
whole  nation,  either  from  its  having  been  the  first  to 
unite  with  the  neighbouring  provinces,  or  from  hav- 
ing at  some  remote  period  reduced  them  under  its 
dominion.  This  people,  ever  enthusiastically  at- 
tached to  their  independence,  pride  themselves  in 
being  called  Auca,  which  signifies  frank  or  free,  and 
those  Spaniards,  who  had  left  the  army  in  the  Nether- 
lands to  serve  in  Chili,  gave  to  this  country  the  name 
Vol.  11.  G 


50 

of  Araucanian  Flanders,  or  the  Invincible  State,  and 
bomc  of  them  have  even  had  the  magnanimity  to 
celebrate  in  epic  poetry  the  exploits  of  a  people 
■\vho,  to  preserve  their  independence,  have  shed 
such  torrents  of  Spanish  blood. 

The  Araucanians,  although  they  do  not  exceed 
the  ordinary  height  of  the  human  species,  are  in 
general  muscular,  robust,  well  proportioned,  and  of 
a  martial  appearance.  It  is  very  unusual  to  find 
among  them  any  person  who  is  crooked  or  deform- 
ed, not  from  their  pursuing,  as  some  have  supposed, 
the  cruel  custom  of  the  ancieht  Spartans,  in  suffoca- 
ting such  unfortunate  children,  but  because  they 
leave  to  nature  the  care  of  forming  them,  without 
obstructing  her  operations  by  the  improper  applica- 
tion of  bandages  and  stays.  Their  complexion,  with 
the  exception  of  the  Boroanes,  who,  as  I  have  al- 
ready observed,  are  fair  and  ruddy,  is  of  a  reddish 
brown,  but  clearer  than  that  of  the  other  Ameri- 
cans. They  have  round  faces,  small  animated  eyes 
full  of  expression,  a  nose  rather  Hat,  a  handsome 
mouth,  even  and  white  teeth,  muscular  and  well 
shaped  legs,  and  small  flat  feet.  Like  the  Tartars, 
tiiey  have  scarce  any  beard,  and  the  smallest  hair  is 
never  to  be  discerned  on  their  faces,  from  the  care 
tliey  take  to  pluck  out  the  little  that  appears  ;  they 
esteem  it  very  impolite  to  have  a  beard,  calling  the 
Europeans,  byway  of  reproach,  the  long  beards. 
The  same  attention  is  paid  to  removing  it  from  their 
bodies,  where  its  growth  is  more  abundant;  that  of 
their  heads  is  thick  and  black,   but  rather  coarse  ; 


51 

they  permit  it  to  grow  to  a  great  lcni>th,  and  wind  it 
in  tresses  around  tlieir  heads  ;  of  this  they  are  as 
proud  and  careful  as  they  are  averse  to  beards,  nor 
could  a  greater  aíFront  be  oiFered  them  than  to  cut  it 
off.  Their  women  are  delicately  formed,  and  many 
of  them,  especially  among  the  Boroanes,  are  very 
handsome. 

Possessed  of  great  strength  of  constitution,  and 
unincumbered  with  the  cares  that  disturb  civilized 
society,  they  are  not  subject,  except  at  a  very  ad- 
vanced period  of  life,  to  the  infirmities  attendant 
upon  old  age.  They  rarely  begin  to  be  grey  before 
they  are  sixty  or  seventy,  andaré  not  bald  or  wrin- 
kled until  eighty.  They  are  generally  longer  lived 
than  the  Spaniards,  and  many  are  to  be  met  with 
whose  age  exceeds  a  hundred  ;  and,  to  the  latest 
period  of  their  lives,  they  retain  their  sight,  teeth 
and  memory  unimpaired. 

Their  moral  qualities  are  proportionate  to  their 
physical  endowments  ;  they  are  intrepid,  animated, 
ardent,  patient  in  enduring  fatigue,  ever  ready  to 
sacrifice  their  lives  in  the  service  of  their  country, 
enthusiastic  lovers  of  liberty,  which  they  consider 
as  an  essential  constituent  of  their  existence,  jealous 
of  their  honour,  courteous,  hospitable,  faithful  to 
their  engagements,  grateful  for  services  rendered 
them,  and  generous  and  humane  towards  the  van- 
quished. But  these  noble  qualities  are  obscured  by 
the  vices  inseparable  from  the  half-savage  state  of 
life  which  they  lead,  unrefined  by  literature  or 
cultivation  ;  these  are  drunkenness,  debauchery, 
presumption,  and  a  haughty  contempt  for  all  othei^ 


52 

nations.  Were  the  civil  manners  and  innocent  im- 
provements of  Europe  introduced  among  them,  they 
would  soon  become  a  people  deserving  of  universal 
esteem  ;  but,  under  the  present  system,  this  happy 
change  appears  impossible  to  be  effected. 

Ail  those  nations  whom  either  the  nature  of  the 
climate  or  a  sense  of  decency  has  induced  to  clothe 
themselves,  have  made  use  at  first  of  loose  garments, 
as  being  the  most  easily  made.  But  the  Araucanians, 
from  their  great  attachment  to  war,  Avhich  they  con- 
sider as  the  only  true  source  of  glory,  have  adopted 
the  short  garment,  as  best  suited  to  martial  conflicts. 
This  dress  is  made  of  wool,  as  was  that  of  the  Greeks 
and  Romans,  and  consists  of  a  shirt,  a  vest,  a  pair  of 
short  close  breeches,  and  a  cloak  in  form  of  a  scapu- 
lary,  with  an  opening  in  the  middle  for  the  head, 
made  full  and  long  so  as  to  cover  the  hands  and  de- 
scend to  the  knees.  This  cloak  is  called  poncho,  and 
is  much  more  commodious  than  our  mantles,  as  it 
leaves  the  arms  at  liberty,  and  may  be  thrown  over 
the  shoulder  at  pleasure  ;  it  is  also  a  better  protec- 
tion from  the  Vvind  and  the  rain,  and  more  conveni- 
ent for  riding  on  horseback,  for  which  reason  it  is 
commonly  worn  not  only  by  the  Spaniards  in  Chili, 
but  by  those  of  Peru  and  Paraguay. 

The  shirt,  vest  and  breeches  are  always  of  a  green- 
ish blue  or  turquois,  which  is  the  favourite  colour 
of  the  nation,  as  red  is  that  of  tlie  Tartars.  The 
poncho  is  also,  among  persons  of  inferior  condition, 
of  a  greenish  blue,  but  those  of  the  higher  classes 
wear  it  of  different  colours,  cither  white,  red  or  blue, 
with  stripes  a  span  broad,  on  which  are  wrought,  with 


^J 


much  skill,  figures  of  flowers  and  animals  in  various 
colours,  and  the  border  is  ornamented  w  ith  a  hand- 
some fringe.  Some  of  these  ponchos  are  of  so  fnie 
and  elegant  a  texture  as  to  be  sold  for  a  hundred  and 
even  a  hundred  and  fifty  dollars. 

Th-e  Araucanians  make  use  of  neither  turbans  nor 
hats,  but  wear  upon  their  heads  a  bandage  of  em- 
broidered wool,  in  the  form  of  the  ancient  diadem. 
This,  whenever  they  salute,  they  raise  a  little,  as  a 
mark  of  courtesy,  and  on  going  to  v/ar  ornament  it 
with  a  number  of  beautiful  plumes.  They  also  wear 
around  the  body  a  long  woolen  girdle  or  sash  hand- 
somely wrought.  Persons  of  rank  wear  wooilcu 
boots  of  various  colours,  and  leather  sandals,  called 
c/ielle^  but  the  common  people  always  go  bare- 
footed. 

,  The  women  are  clad  with  much  modesty  and 
simplicity.  Their  dress  is  entirely  of  wool,  and, 
agreeable  to  the  national  taste,  of  a  greenish  blue 
colour.  It  consists  of  a  tunic,  a  girdle,  and  a  short 
cloak,  called  ichella,  which  is  fastened  before  with  a 
silver  buckle.  The  tunic,  called  chiamal^  is  long, 
and  descends  to  the  feet ,  it  is  without  sleeves,  and 
is  fastened  upon  the  shoulder  by  silver  broaches  or 
buckles.  This  dress,  sanctioned  by  custom,  is  never 
varied;  but,  to  gratify  their  love  of  finery,  they 
adorn  themselves  with  all  those  trinkets  which  ca- 
price or  vanity  suggests.  They  divide  their  hair 
into  several  tresses,  which  fioat  in  graceful  negli- 
gence over  their  siioulders,  and  decorate  their  heads 
with  a  species  of  false  emerald,  called  guanea,  held 
by  them  in  high  estimation.     Their  necklaces  and 


54 

bracelets  are  of  glass,  and  their  ear-rings,  v/hich  are 
square,  of  silver  ;  they  have  rings  upon  each  finger, 
the  greater  part  of  which  are  of  silver.  It  is  calcula- 
ted that  more  than  a  hundred  thousand  marks  of  this 
metal  are  employed  in  these  female  ornaments,  since 
they  are  worn  even  by  the  poorest  class. 

I  have  already  given  some  account  of  the  dwel- 
lings of  the  ancient  Chilians  ;  the  Araucanians,  te- 
nacious, as  are  all  nations  not  corrupted  by  luxury, 
of  the  customs  of  their  country,  have  made  no 
change  in  their  mode  of  building.  But,  as  they  are 
almost  all  polygamists,  the  size  of  their  houses  is 
proportioned  to  the  number  of  women  they  can 
maintain.  The  interior  of  these  houses  is  very 
simple,  the  luxury  of  convenience,  splendor  and 
show,  is  altogether  unknown  in  ihem,  and  necessity 
alone  is  consulted  in  the  selection  of  their  furniture. 

They  never  form  towns,  but  live  in  scattered  vil- 
lages or  hamlets,  on  the  banks  of  rivers,  or  in 
plains  that  are  easily  iri-igated  Their  local  attach- 
ments are  strong,  each  family  preferring  to  live  upon 
the  land  inherited  from  its  ancestors,  which  they 
cultivate  sufficiently  for  their  subsistence.  The  ge- 
nius of  this  haughty  people,  in  which  the  savage  still 
predominates,  will  not  permit  them  to  live  in  walled 
cities,  which  they  consider  as  a  mark  of  servitude. 


55 


CHAPTER  IL 


Division  of  the  Araucania?!  State  ;  Its  political  Form 
and  civil  Institutioiis. 

ALTHOUGH  in  their  settlements  the  Aran ca- 
nians  are  wanting  in  regularity,  that  is  by  no  means 
the  case  in  the  political  division  of  their  state,  which 
is  regulated  with  much  intelligence.  They  have  di- 
vided it  from  north  to  south  into  four  uthal-mapus, 
or  parallel  tetrarchatcs,  that  are  nearly  equal,  to  which 
they  give  the  names  of  lauquen-mapu,  the  maritime 
country  ;  lelhun-mapu^  the  plain  country  ;  inapire- 
mapUy  the  country  at  the  foot  of  the  Andes  ;  and 
pire-mopu,  or  that  of  the  Andes.  Each  Uthalmapu 
is  divided  into  five  aillareguesy  or  provinces  ;  and 
each  aillaregue  into  nine  regues,  or  counties. 

The  maritime  country  comprehends  the  provin- 
ces of  Arauco,  Tucapel,  lUicura,  Boroa  and  Nag. 
token  ;  the  country  of  the  plain  includes  those  of 
Encol,  Puren,  Repocura,  Maquegua  and  Mariqui- 
na  :  that  at  the  foot  of  the  Andes  contains  Marven, 
Colhue,  Chacaico,  Quecheregua,  and  Guanagua  ; 
and  in  that  of  the  Andes  is  included  all  the  vailles 
of  the  Cordilleras,  situated  within  the  limits  already 
mentioned,  which  are  inhabited  by  the  Puelches.* 

*  In  the  second  and  third  articles  of  the  regulations  of  Lonqui!- 
mo,  made  in  the  year  1784,  the  limits  of  each  Uthalmapu  are  ex- 
pressly defined,  and  its  districts  marked  out.   It  declares  to  bea¡,- 


56 


These  mountaineers,  who  were  formerly  a  distinct 
nation  in  alliance  with  the  Araucanians,  are  now 
united  under  their  government  and  have  the  same 
magistrates. 

This  division,  which  discovers  a  certain  degree 
of  refinement  in  their  political  administration,  is  of  a 
date  anterior  to  the  arrival  of  the  Spaniards,  and 
serves  as  a  basis  for  the  civil  government  of  the 
Araucanians,  Avhich  is  aristocratic  as  that  of  all  other 
barbarous  nations  has  been.  This  species  of  repub- 
lic consists  of  three  orders  of  nobility,  each  subor- 
dinate to  the  other,  the  Toquis^  the  Apo-Ulmenes, 
and  the  Ulmenes^  all  of  whom  have  their  respective 
vassals.  The  Toquis  who  may  be  styled  tetrarchs, 
are  four  in  number,  and  preside  over  the  uthal-ma- 
pus.  The  appellation  of  Toqui  is  derived  from  the 
verb  toquin,  which  signifies  to  judge  or  command  ; 
they  are  indépendant  of  each  other,  but  confederat- 
ed for  the  public  welfare.  The  Apo-Ulmenes,  or 
Arch- Ulmenes  govern  the  provinces  under  their  res- 
pective Toquis.  The  Ulmenes,  who  are  the  pre- 
lects of  the  regues^  or  counties,  are  dependant  upon 
the  Apo-Ulmenes.  This  dépendance,  however,  is 
confined  almost  entirely  to  military  affairs.  Al- 
though the  Ulmenes  are  the  lowest  in  the  scale  of 

])CMtaining  to  that  of  the  Cordilleras,  the  Huilliches  of  Changóle, 
thoseof  Gayolto  and  Rucachoroy  to  the  south,  the  Puelches  ajid 
Indian  Pampas  to  the  north,  from  Maialque  and  the  frontiers  of 
Mendoza  to  the  Maniilniapu  in  the  Pan>])ab  of  Bucikjs  Ayres,  the 
v.'hole  forming  a  corporate  body  with  the  Puelches  and  Pehuenches 
of  Maule,  Chillan  and  Antuco.  So  that  at  present,  in  cuse  of  an 
infraction  of  the  treaty,  it  may  easily  be  known  what  Uthalmapu  is 
to  make  satisfaction. 


57 

the  Araucanian  aristocracy,  the  superior  ranks,  gene- 
rally speaking,  are  comprehended  under  the  same 
title,  which  is  equivalent  to  that  of  Cacique. 

The  discriminative  badge  of  the  Toqui  is  a  spe- 
cies  of  battle-axe,  made  of  porphyry  or  marble.  The 
Apo-Ulmenes,  and  the  Ulmenes  carry  staves  with 
silver  heads,  but  the  first  by  way  of  distinction  have 
a  ring  of  the  same  metal  around  the  middle  of  their 
staves.  All  these  dignities  are  hereditary  in  the 
male  line,  and  proceed  in  the  order  of  primogeni- 
ture. Thus  have  the  dukes,  the  counts  and  mar- 
quisses  of  the  military  aristocracy  of  the  north  been 
established,  from  time  immemorial,  under  different 
names,  in  a  corner  of  South  America. 

With  its  resemblance  to  the  feudal  system,  this 
government  contains  also  almost  all  its  defects. 
The  Toqui  possesses  but  the  shadow  of  sovereign 
authority.  The  triple  power  that  constitutes  it  is 
vested  in  the  great  body  of  the  nobility,  who  decide 
every  important  question,  in  the  manner  of  the  an- 
cient Germans,  in  a  general  diet,  which  is  called 
Butacoyog  or  Aucacoyog^  the  great  council,  or  coun- 
cil of  the  Araucanians.  This  assefnbly  is  usually 
held  in  some  large  plain,  where  they  combine  the 
pleasures  of  the  table  with  their  public  deliberations. 

Their  code  of  laws  which  is  traditionary,  is  de- 
nominated Admapu,  that  is  to  say,  the  customs  of 
the  country.  In  reality  these  laws  are  nothing  more 
than  ¿:>rimordial  usages,  or  tacit  conventions  that 
hi  f  e  been  established  among  them,  as  was  originally 
the  case  with  almost  all  the  laws  of  other  nations  ; 

they  have,  consequently,  all»the  defects  peculiar  to 
Vol..  II.  H 


58 

such  systems,  since,  as  they  are  not  written,  they 
can  neither  be  very  compendious,  nor  made  suffi- 
ciently pubHc. 

The  clearest  and  most  explicit  of  their  political 
and  fundamental  laws  are  those  that  regulate  the 
limits  of  each  authority  ;  the  order  of  succession  in 
the  Toquiates  and  in  the  Ulminates,  the  confedera- 
tion of  the  four  Tetrarchates,  the  choice  and  the 
power  of  the  commanders  in  chief  in  time  of  war, 
and  the  right  of  convoking  the  general  diets,  v/hich 
is  the  privilege  of  the  Toquis  ;  all  these  laws  have 
for  their  object  the  preservation  of  liberty  and  the 
established  form  of  government.  According  to  them, 
two  or  more  states  cannot  be  held  under  the  rule 
of  the  same  chief.  Whenever  the  male  branch  of  the 
reigning  family  becomes  extinct,  the  vassals  recover 
their  natural  right  of  electing  their  own  chief  I'rom 
that  family  which  is  most  pleasing  to  them.  But 
before  he  is  installed,  he  must  be  presented  to  the 
Toqui  of  their  Uthalmapu,  who  gives  notice  of  his 
election,  in  order  that  the  new  chief  may  be  acknow- 
ledged and  i-espccted  by  all  in  that  quality. 

The  subjects  are  not,  as  under  the  feudal  govern- 
ment, liable  to  a  levy,  or  to  any  kind  of  personal 
service,  except  in  time  of  war.  Neither  are  they- 
obliged  to  pay  any  contributions  to  their  chiefs,  who 
must  subsist  themselves  by  means  of  their  own  pro- 
perty. They  respect  them,  however,  as  their  supe- 
riors, or  rather  as  the  first  among  their  equalR^;  they 
also  attend  to  their  decisions,  and  escort  them  wnv  "^i- 
ver  they  go  out  of  the  state.  These  chiefs,  elated 
witli  their  authority,  would  gladly  extend  its  limits, 


59 


and  govern  as  absolute  masters  ;  but  the  people,  who 
cannot  endure  despotism,  oppose  then-  pretentions, 
and  compel  them  to  keep  within  the  bounds  pre- 
scribed by  their  customs. 

The  civil  laws  of  a  society  whose  manners  are 
simple,  and  interests  but  little  complicated,  cannot 
be  very  numerous.  The  Araucanians  have  but  a 
few  ;  these,  however,  would  be  sufficient  for  their 
state  of  life,  if  the}'^  were  more  respected  and  less 
arbitrary.  Their  system  of  criminal  jurisprudence,  in 
a  particular  manner,  is  very  imperfect.  The  offences 
that  are  deemed  deserving  of  capital  punishment  are 
treacher}^,  intentional  homicide,  "adulter}^  the  rob- 
bery of  any  valuable  article,  and  witchcraft.  Never- 
theless, those  found  guilty  of  homicide  can  screen 
themselves  from  punishment  by  a  composition  with 
the  relations  of  the  murdered.  Husbands  and  fa- 
thers are  not  subject  to  any  punishment  for  killing 
their  wives  or  children,  as  they  are  declared,  by  their 
laws,  to  be  the  natural  masters  of  their  lives.  Those 
accused  of  sorcery,  a  crime  only  known  in  countries 
involved  in  ignorance,  are  first  tortured  by  fire,  in 
order  to  make  them  discover  their  accomplices,  and 
then  stabbed  with  daggers. 

Other  crimes  of  less  importance  are  punished  by 
retaliation,  which  is  much  in  use  among  them,  un- 
der the  name  oí  thaulonco.  Justice  is  administered 
in  a  tumultuous  and  irregular  manner,  and  witliout 
any  of  those  preliminary  formalities,  for  the  most 
part  useless,  that  are  observed  among  civilized  na- 
tions. The  criminal  who  is  convicted  of  a  capital 
offence,  is  immediately  put  to  death,  according  to 


60 

the  military  custom,  without  first  being  suffered  to 
rot  in  prison,  a  mode  of  confinement  unknown  to  the 
Araucanians.  It  was,  however,  a  little  before  my 
leaving  Chili,  introduced  into  Tucapel,  the  seat  of 
the  government  of  Lauquen-mapu,  by  Cathicura^ 
the  Toqui  of  that  district  ;  but,  I  know  not  the  suc- 
cess of  this  experiment,  which  was  at  first  very  ill 
received  by  his  subjects. 

The  Ulmenes  are  the  lawful  judges  of  their  vassals, 
and  for  this  reason  their  authority  is  less  precarious. 
The  unconquerable  pride  of  this  people  prevents 
them  from  adopting  the  wise  measures  of  public 
justice  ;  they  alone  possess  some  general  and  vague 
ideas  upon  the  principles  of  political  union,  whence 
the  executive  power  being  without  force,  distributive 
justice  is  ill  administered,  or  entirely  abandoned  to 
the  caprice  of  individuals.  The  injured  family  often 
assumes  the  right  of  pursuing  the  aggressor  or  his 
relations,  and  of  punishing  thcni.  From  this  abuse 
are  derived  the  denominations  and  distinctions,  so 
much  used  in  their  jurisprudence,  oï g€7igue?in^  gen- 
guman,  genla,  8cc.  denoting  the  principal  connec- 
tions of  the  aggressor,  of  the  injured,  or  the  deceased, 
■who  are  supposed  to  be  authorised,  by  the  laws  of 
nature,  to  support  by  force  the  rights  of  their  rela- 
tives. 

A  system  of  judicial  proceeding  so  irregular,  and 
apparently  so  incompatible  with  the  existence  of  any 
kind  of  civil  society,  becomes  the  constant  source 
of  disorders  entirely  hostile  to  the  primary  object  of 
all  good  government,  public  and  private  security. 
When  those  who  are  at  enmity  have  a  considerable 


61 

number  of  adherents,  they  mutually  make  incursions 
upon  each  others  possessions,  where  they  destroy  or 
burn  all  that  they  cannot  carry  off.  These  private 
quarrels,  called  malocas,  resemble  much  the  feuds 
of  the  ancient  Germans,  and  are  very  dreadful  when 
the  Ulmenes  are  concerned,  in  which  case  they  be- 
come real  civil  wars.  But  it  must  be  acknowledg- 
ed that  they  are  generally  unaccompanied  with  the 
effusion  of  blood,  and  are  confined  to  pillage  alone. 
This  people,  notwithstanding  their  propensity  to  vio- 
lence, rarely  employ  arms  in  their  private  quarrels, 
but  decide  them  with  the  fist  or  with  the  club. 


»♦♦«« 


CHAPTER  III. 


Military  System  of  the  Araucanians  ;  their  Arms  and 
Mode  of7naking  War. 

THE  military  government  of  the  Araucanians  is 
not  only  more  rational  and  better  systematized  than 
the  civil,  but  in  some  respects  appears  to  be  supe- 
rior to  the  genius  of  an  uncultivated  nation.  When- 
ever the  grand  council  determines  to  go  to  war,  they 
proceed  immediately  to  the  election  of  a  comman- 
der in  chief,  to  which  the  Toquis  have  the  first  claim, 
as  being  the  hereditary  generals  or  stadtholders  of 
tlie  republic.  If  neither  of  them  is  deemed  qualified 
for  the  command,  dismissing  all  regard  for  rank, 


62 

the}'  cntrubt  it  to  the  most  deserving  of  the  Ulmenes, 
or  even  the  officers  of  the  common  class,  as  the  talents 
necessary  for  this  important  station  are  what  alone 
are  required.  In  consequence,  Vilumilla^  a  man  of 
low  origin,  commanded  the  Araucanian  army  with 
much  honour  in  the  war  of  1722  ;  and  Curignanca, 
the  younger  son  of  an  Ulmen  of  the  province  of  En- 
col,  in  that  which  terminated  in  1773. 

On  accepting  his  appointment,  the  new  general 
assumes  the  title  of  Toqui,  and  the  stone  hatchet  in 
token  of  supreme  command,  at  which  time  the  native 
Toquis  lay  aside  tlieirs,  it  not  being  lawful  for  them 
to  carry  them  during  the  government  of  this  dictator. 
They  likewise,  sacrificing  private  ambition  to  the 
public  good,  take  the  oaths  of  obedience  and  fealty 
to  him,  together  with  the  other  Ulmenes.  Even  the 
people,  who  in  peace  shew  themselves  repugnant  to 
all  subordination,  are  then  prompt  to  obey,  and  sub- 
missi^'e  to  the  will  of  their  military  sovereign.  He 
cannot,  however,  put  an}'^  one  to  death  \\  ithout  the 
consent  of  the  principal  officers  of  his  army,  but  as 
these  are  of  his  own  appointment,  his  orders  may  be 
considered  as  absolute. 

From  tlie  arrival  of  the  Spaniards  in  the  country 
to  the  present  time,  it  is  observable  that  all  the 
Toquis  who  have  been  appointed  in  time  of  war 
were  natives  of  the  provinces  of  Arauco,  of  Tucapel, 
of  Encol,  or  of  Puren.  Whether  this  partiality  is 
owing  to  some  superstitious  notion,  or  rather  to  some 
ancient  law  or  agreement,  I  am  unable  to  determine  ; 
it  appears,  however,  to  be  repugnant  to  the  princi- 
ples of  sound  policy,  as  it  is  very  rare  for  the  com- 


ponent  parts  of  a  state  to  maintain  themselves  long 
in  a  state  of  union,  when  they  do  not  all  participate 
equally  in  the  advantages  of  the  government.  But 
it  is  a  peculiarity  worthy  of  admiration,  that  this  dis- 
crimination has  hitherto  produced  no  division  among 
them. 

One  of  the  first  measures  of  the  national  council, 
after  having  decided  upon  war,  is  to  dispatch  certain 
messengers  or  expresses,  cúhd  guerçuenis,  to  the 
confederate  tribes,  and  even  to  those  Indians  who 
live  among  the  Spaniards,  to  inform  the  first  of  the 
steps  that  have  been  taken,  and  to  request  the  others 
to  make  a  common  cause  with  their  countrymen. 
The  credentials  of  these  envoys  are  some  small  ar- 
rows tied  together  with  a  red  string,  the  symbol  of 
blood.  But  if  hostilities  are  actually  commenced, 
the  finger  of  a  slain  enemy  is  joined  to  the  arrows. 
This  embassy,  called  pulchitum^  to  run  the  arrow,  is 
performed  with  such  secrecy  and  expedition  in  the 
Spanish  settlements,  that  the  messengers  are  rarely 
discovered. 

The  Toqui  directs  what  number  of  soldiers  are 
to  be  furnished  by  each  Uthalmapu  ;  the  tetrarchs 
in  their  turn  regulate  the  contingencies  of  the  Apo- 
Ulmenes,  and  these  last  apportion  them  among  their 
respective  Ulmenes.  Every  Araucanian  is  born  a 
soldier.  All  are  ready  to  profler  their  services  for 
war,  so  that  there  is  no  difficulty  in  raising  an  army, 
which  usually  consists  of  five  or  six  thousand  men, 
besides  the  corps  de  reserve.,  which  are  kept  in 
readiness  for  particular  occasions,  or  to  replace  those 
killed  in  battle. 


64 

The  commander  in  chief,  appoints  his  Vice  Toqui, 
or  lieutenant-general,  and  the  ctherofilcers  of  hisstaft', 
Avho  in  their  turn  nonnnate  their  subaltern  officers. 
By  this  method,  liarmony  and  subordination  are 
maintained  between  the  respective  commanders. 
The  Vice  Toqui,  is  almost  always  selected  from 
among-  the  Puelches,  in  order  to  stitisfy  that  valiant 
tribe,  who  as  I  have  already  observed,  amount  to 
the  fourth  part  of  the  population  of  the  state.  Nor 
have  the  Araucanians  ever  had  cause  to  repent  of 
this  selection.  During  the  last  war,  one  of  these 
mountaineers,  Levianiu,  lieutenant-general  of  Cu- 
rignancu,  harrassed  the  Spaniards  greatly,  and  gave 
their  troops  constant  employment. 

The  army  is  at  present  composed  of  infantry  and 
of  horse.  It  originally  consisted  entirely  of  the  for- 
mer, but  in  their  first  battles  with  the  Spaniards, 
perceiving  the  great  advantage  which  their  enemies 
derived  from  their  cavalry,  they  soon  began  to  disci- 
pline themselves  in  the  same  manner.  Their  first  care 
was  to  procure  a  good  breed  of  horses,  which  in  a 
short  time  became  so  numerous  that  in  the  year 
1568,  seventeen  years  after  their  first  opposing  the 
Spanish  arms,  they  were  able  to  furnish  several 
squadrons,  and  in  the  }'car  1585,  the  caAalry  was 
first  regularly  organized  by  the  Toqui  Cadeguala. 

The  infantry,  which  they  call  namimtuimco,  is  di- 
vided into  regiments  and  companies  ;  each  regiment 
consists  of  one  thousand  men,  and  contains  ten  com- 
panies of  one  hundred.  The  cavalry  is  divided  in 
the  like  manner,  but  the  number  of  horse  is  not  al- 
ways the  same.     They  have  all  their  particular  stan- 


6S 

dards,  but  each  bears  a  star,  which  is  the  national 
device.  The  soldiers  are  not  clothed  in  uniform, 
according  to  the  European  custom,  but  all  wear  be- 
neath their  usual  dress  cuirasses  of  leather,  hardened 
by  a  peculiar  mode  of  dressing  ;  their  shields  and 
helmets  are  also  made  of  the  same  material. 

The  cavalry  is  armed  with  swords  and  lances  ; 
the  infantry  with  pikes  or  clubs  pointed  with  iron. 
They  formerly  employed  bows  and  slings,  in  the 
use  of  which  they  were  very  dexterous,  but  since 
the  arrival  of  the  Spaniards,  they  have  almost  en- 
tirely relinqy-iished  them,  experience  having  taught 
them  to  avoid  the  destructive  effect  of  their  mus- 
ketry, by  immediately  closing  in  and  fighting  hand 
to  hand  with  the  enemy. 

The  art  of  making  gun- powder  is  as  yet  unknown 
to  these  warlike  people.  Either  they  regard  it  but 
little,  or,  what  is  more  probable,  those  Spaniards 
with  whom  the}/  have  sometimes  traded,  would  not, 
if  they  were  themselves  acquainted  with  it,  commu- 
nicate to  them  the  composition.  It  is,  however, 
believed  that  they  made  use  at  first  of  the  greatest 
exertions  tp  obtain  the  knowledge  of  this  secret  so 
important  in  the  present  system  of  warfare.  The 
discovery  of  powder,  is  well  ascertained  to  have 
been  owing  more  to  accident  than  to  the  efforts  of 
human  ingenuity,  although  some  pretend  that  it  was 
known  in  China  long  before  the  period  that  it  was 
discovered  in  Europe.  The  inhabitants  of  the 
country  relate  the  following  anecdote  respecting 
gun-powder,  which,  however  fabulous  and  absurd  it 
may  appear,  is  generally  credited.     The  Arauca- 

Vol.  II.  I 


66 

nians  on  first  seeing  negroes  with  the  Spaniards, 
imagined  that  they  prepared  from  them  the  powder 
which  they  used.  Soon  after,  having  taken  one  of 
those  unfortunate  men,  they  first  covered  him  with 
stripes  from  head  to  foot,  and  afterwards  burned  him 
to  a  coal,  in  order,  by  reducing  it  to  powder,  to  ob- 
tain the  so  much  wished  for  secret,  but  were  soon 
convinced  of  the  faUacy  of  their  chymical  principles. 
In  their  various  encounters  with  the  Spaniards,  they 
occasionally  took  from  them  powder  and  muskets, 
which  in  the  subsequent  battles  they  employed 
with  as  much  skill  as  if  they  had  been  fora  longtime 
accustomed  to  them,  but  as  soon  as  the  powder  was 
expended  they  resumed  their  former  arms. 

The  Dutch  when  they  took  the  city  of  Valdivia 
attempted  to  form  an  alliance  with  them,  and  promis- 
ed to  supply  them  with  powder  and  cannon,  but,  as 
they  distrusted  all  the  Europeans,  they  would  not 
listen  to  their  proposal. 

Before  setting  out  on  his  expedition,  the  general 
assigns  three  days  for  consultation,  in  order  to  consi- 
der anew  the  plans  of  the  campaign  and  to  adppt  the 
best  expedients.  Upon  this  occasion,  every  one  has 
the  liberty  of  oflcring  his  opinion,  if  he  deems  it 
conducive  to  the  public  welfare.  In  the  mean  time 
the  general  consults  in  secret  with  the  officers  of  his 
staff,  upon  the  plans  that  he  has  formed,  and  the 
means  of  remedying  sinister  events. 

After  this,  the  army  commences  its  march  to  the 
sound  of  drums,  l;)eing  always  preceded  by  several 
advanced  parties,  in  order  to  avoid  a  surprise.  The 
infantry,  as  well  as  cavalry,  proceed  on  horseback. 


C7 

but  on  coming  to  action  they  immediately  dismount, 
and  form  themselves  into  their  respective  compa- 
nies. Each  soldier  is  obliged  to  bring  from  home 
not  only  his  arms  but  his  supply  of  provisions,  ac- 
cording to  the  custom  of  the  Romans.  As  all  arc 
liable  to  military  service,  so  no  one  in  particular  is 
obliged  to  contribute  to  the  support  of  the  army. 
The  provision  consists  in  a  small  sack  of  parched 
meal  for  each,  which,  diluted  v^dth  water,  furnishes 
sufficient  food  for  them  until  they  are  enabled  to  live 
at  free  quarters  upon  the  enemy.  By  adopting 
this  mode,  the  troops,  being  free  and  unincumbered 
with  baggage,  move  with  greater  celerity,  and  never 
lose  an  opportunity  of  attacking  the  enemy  with  ad- 
vantage, or  of  making,  when  necessary,  a  rapid  re- 
treat. Frederick  the  Great  of  Prussia,  and  the  cele-, 
brated  Marshal  Saxe,  attempted  to  restore  this  an- 
cient method  of  provisioning  armies,  but  the  Euro- 
pean soldiery,  so  accustomed  to  a  different  mode  of 
living,  were  not  willing  to  return  to  that  state  of 
primitive  simplicity. 

The  Araucanian  troops  are  extremely  vigilant  ; 
they  adopt  at  night  the  most  prudent  measures,  by 
encamping  in  secure  and  advantageous  positions. 
On  these  occasions  centinels  are  placed  upon  all 
sides,  and  in  presence  of  the  enemy  they  re- 
double their  precautions,  and  strengthen  the  posts 
they  occupy  with  strong  entrenchments.  Every 
soldier  during  night  is  obliged,  in  order  to  prove  his 
vigilance,  to  keep  up  a  fire  before  his  tent  :  the  great 
number  of  these  fires  serve  to  deceive  the  enemy, 
and  have  at  a  distance  a  very  singular  appearance. 


68 

They  are  besides  well  acquainted  with  the  art  of 
constructin,^  military  works,  and  of  protecting  them- 
selves with  deep  ditches,  which  they  guard  with 
branches  of  thorn,  and  strew  caltrops  in  the  environs 
to  repress  the  incursions  of  the  enemy's  horse.  In 
short,  there  aré  few  military  stratagems  that  they  do  not 
employ  at  a  proper  time  and  place.  The  celebrated 
Spanish  poet,  Ercilla,  who  fought  against  them  under 
Don  Garcia,  expresses  his  admiration  at  meeting 
with  troops  so  well  disciplined,  and  possessing  such 
perfection  in  tactics,  which,  to  use  his  expressions, 
tlie  most  celebrated  nations  in  the  world  have  not 
been  able  to  attain  without  great  trouble,  and  after  a 
long  course  of  years. 

A'Vhen  an  action  becomes  necessary,  they  separate 
the  cavalry  into  two  wings,  and  place  the  infantry  hi 
the  centre,  divided  into  several  battalions,  the  files 
being  composed  alternately  of  pikemen  and  soldiers 
armed  with  clubs,  in  such  a  manner  that  between 
every  pike  a  club  is  always  to  be  found.  The  Vice 
Toqui  has  the  command  of  the  right  Aving,  and  that 
of  the  left  is  committed  to  an  experienced  officer. 
The  Toqui  is  present  every  where  as  occasion  may 
require,  and  exhorts  his  men  with  much  eloquence 
to  fight  valiantly  for  their  liberties.  But  of  this  there 
appears  little  need,  as  the  soldiers  manifest  such  ar- 
dour, that  their  officers  have  much  more  difficulty 
in  restraining  their  impetuosity  than  in  exciting 
them  to  action.  Fully  impressed  with  the  opinion 
that  to  die  in  battle  is  the  greatest  honour  that  a  man 
can  acquire  in  this  life,  on  the  signal  for  combat  be- 
ing given,  they  advance  desperately,    shouting  in  a 


69 

terrific  manner,  and  notwitbstandini^  tlie  slauglitcr 
made  among  them  by  the  cannon,  endeavour  to  pene- 
trate the  centre  of  the  enemy.  Though  they  know 
full  well  that  the  first  ranks  will  be  exposed  to  al- 
most certain  destruction,  they  eagerly  contend  with 
each  other  for  these  poijts  of  honour,  or  to  serve  as 
leaders  of  the  files.  As  soon  as  the  first  line  is  cut 
down,  the  second  occupies  its  place,  and  then  the 
third,  until  they  finally  succeed  in  breaking  the  front 
ranks  of  the  enemy.  In  the  midst  of  their  fury  they 
nevertheless  preserve  the  strictest  order,  and  perform 
all  the  evolutions  directed  by  their  officers.  The 
most  terrible  of  them  are  the  club-bearers,  who,  like 
so  many  Herculeses,  destroy  with  their  iron-pointed 
maces  all  that  they  meet  in  their  way.-* 

*  The  people  of  Chili,  the  bravest  and  most  active  among  tlie 
Americans,  ought  to  be  excepted  from  this  observation  ;  they  at- 
tack their  enemies  in  tlie  open  field  ;  their  troops  are  disposed  in 
regular  order,  and  their  battalions  advance  to  action  not  only  with 
courage  but  with  discipline.  The  North  Americans,  although 
many  of  them  have  substituted  the  fire  arms  of  Europe  in  place  of 
their  bows  and  arrows,  are  notwithstanding  still  attached  to  their 
ancient  manner  of  making  war,  and  carry  it  on  according  to  their, 
own  system  ;  but  the  Chilians  resemble  the  warlike  nations  of 

Europe  and  Asia  in  their  military  operations Bobertson\%  History 

of  America,  vol.  ii. 


70 


CHAPTER  IV. 


Division    of  the   Spoil;    Sacrifice  after  the   War  ; 
Congress  of  Peace. 

THE  spoils  of  war  arc  divided  among  those  who 
have  had  the  good  fortune  to  take  tlicm.  But  when 
the  capture  has  been  general,  they  are  distributed 
among  the  whole  in  equal  parts,  called  reg^  so  that 
no  preference  is  shown  to  any  of  the  officers,  nor  even 
to  the  Toqui.  The  prisoners,  according  to  the  cus- 
tom of  all  barbarous  nations,  are  made  slaves  until 
they  are  exchanged  or  ransomed. 

According  to  the  admapu,  one  of  these  unfortu- 
nate men  must  be  sacrificed  to  the  manes  of  the  sol- 
diers killed  in  the  war.  This  cruel  law,  traces  of 
which  are  to  be  found  in  the  annals  of  almost  all  na- 
tions, is  nevertheless  very  rarely  put  in  practice,  but 
one  or  two  instances  having  occurred  in  the  space  of 
nearly  two  hundred  years.  The  Araucanians  are 
sensible  to  the  dictates  of  compassion,  although  the 
contrary  is  alledged  by  certain  writers,  who  having 
assumed  as  an  incontrovertible  principle  that  they 
never  srive  quarter  to  their  enemies,  afterwards  con- 
tradict themselves  in  mentioning  the  great  number  of 
Spanish  prisoners  who  have  cither  been  exchanged 
or  ransomed  after  the  Wi^r.  The  sacrifice  above 
mentioned,  c?a\tá  pruloncon,  or  the  dance  of  the  head, 
is  performed  in  the  following  manner  : 


The  officers,  surrounded  by  the  soldiers,  form  a 
circle,  in  the  centre  of  which  in  tlie  midst  of  four 
poniards,  representing  the  four  Uthalmapus,  is  pla- 
ced the  official  axe  of  the  Toqui.  The  unfortunate 
prisoner,  as  a  mark  of  ignominy,  is  then  led  in  upon 
a  horse  deprived  of  his  ears  and  tail,  and  placed  near 
the  axe,  with  his  face  turned  towards  his  country. 
They  afterwards  give  him  a  handful  of  small  sticks 
and  a  sharp  stake,  with  which  they  oblige  him  to 
dig  a  hole  in  the  ground,  in  which  they  order  him 
to  cast  the  sticks  one  by  one,  repeating  the  names  of 
the  principal  warriors  of  his  country,  while  at  the 
same  time  the  surrounding  soldiers  load  these  ab- 
horred names  with  the  bitterest  execrations.  He  is 
then  ordered  to  cover  the  hole,  as  if  to  bury  therein 
the  reputation  and  valour  of  their  enemies  whom  he 
has  named.  After  this  ceremony  the  Toqui,  or  one 
of  his  bravest  companions,  to  whom  he  relinquishes 
the  honour  of  the  execution,  dashes  out  the  brains 
of  the  prisoner  with  a  club.  The  heart  is  immediate- 
ly taken  out  by  two  attendants  and  presented  palpi- 
tating to  the  general,  who  sucks  a  little  of  the  blood, 
and  passes  it  to  his  officers,  who  repeat  in  succes- 
sion the  same  ceremony  ;  in  the  mean  time  he  fu- 
migates with  tobacco  smoke  from  his  pipe  the  four 
cardinal  points  of  the  circle.  The  soldiers  strip  the 
flesh  from  the  bones,  and  make  of  them  fiutes  ;  then 
cutting  OÍF  the  head,  carry  it  around  upon  a  pike 
amidst  the  acclamations  of  the  multitude,  while, 
stamping  in  measured  pace,  they  thunder  out  their 
dreadful  war-song,  accompanied  by  the  mournful 
sound  of  these  horrid  instruments.     This  barbarous 


festival  is  terminated  by  applying  to  the  mangled 
body  the  head  of  a  sheep,  which  is  succeeded  by  a 
scene  of  riot  and  intoxication.  If  the  skull  should 
not  be  broken  by  the  blows  of  the  club,  they  miake 
of  it  a  cup  called  ralllonco^  which  they  use  in  their 
banquets  in  the  manner  of  the  ancient  Scythians  and 
Goths. 

On  the  termination  of  a  war,  a  congress  is  assem- 
bled, called  by  the  Spaniards  parlameiito^  and  the 
Araucanians  hii'mcacoyag.  This  is  usually  held  in  a 
delightful  plain  between  the  rivers  Bio-bio  and  Du- 
quecOj  on  the  confines  of  both  territories,  whither 
the  Spanish  President  and  the  Araucanian  Toqui  re- 
pair with  the  attendants  agreed  upon  in  the  prelimi- 
nary articles.  The  four  Uthalmapus  send  at  the 
same  time  four  deputies,  who  are  usually  the  Te- 
trarchs  themselves,  and  whose  unanimous  consent  is 
requisite  for  the  establishment  and  ratification  of 
peace.  In  the  congress  that  was  held  after  the  war 
of  1723  were  present  one  hundred  and  thirty  Ul- 
menes with  their  attendants,  who  amounted  to  the 
number  of  two  thousand  men.  The  camps  of  the 
negociating  parties  were  separated  by  an  interval  of 
two  miles. 

The  conference  is  commenced  with  many  com- 
pliments upon  either  side,  and  in  token  of  future 
friendship,  they  bind  the  staves  of  the  Ulmenes  with 
that  of  the  Spanish  President  together,  and  place 
tliem  in  the  midst  of  the  assembly  ;  an  Araucanian 
orator  then  presents  a  branch  of  cinnamon,  which  is 
.  with  them  the  token  of  peace,  and  placing  his  left 
luuid  upon  the  bundle  of  staves,  makes  in  the  Chi- 


73 

lian  language  a  pertinent  harangue  upon  the  causea 
that  produced  the  war,  and  the  most  eligible  means 
of  preserving  harmony  between  the  two  nations.  He 
then  proceeds  with  much  eloquence  and  energy  to 
point  out  the  losses  and  miseries  occasioned  by  war, 
and  the  advantages  that  are  derived  from  peace,  to 
which  he  exhorts  the  chiefs  of  either  party  in  a  pa- 
thetic peroration.  An  interpreter  then  explains  the 
precise  meaning  of  all  that  the  Araucanian  has  said. 
The  Spanish  president  replies  in  another  speech 
adapted  to  the  subject,  which  is  interpreted  in  the 
same  manner.  The  articles  of  the  treaty  are  then 
agreed  upon,  and  are  ratified  by  a  sacrifice  of  seve- 
ral Chilihueques,  or  Chilian  camels,  which  the 
Araucanians  immolate  for  the  happy  continuance  of 
the  peace.  After  this  the  president  dines  at  the 
same  table  with  the  Toqui  and  the  principal  Ulme- 
nes, to  whom  he  makes  the  customary  presents  in 
tlie  name  of  his  sovereign.*" 

*  In  those  countries  the  Araucanians  are  the  most  usual,  most 
intrepid  and  most  irreconcilable  enemies  of  Spain.  They  are 
the  only  people  of  the  new  world  who  have  ventHredto  fight  with 
the  Europeans  in  the  open  field,  and  who  employ  the  sling  in  order 
to  hurl  death  at  a  distance  upon  their  enemies.  They  have  even 
the  intrepidity  to  attack  the  best  fortified  posts.  As  these  Americ,.. 
cans  are  trot  embarrassed  in  making  war,  they  are  not  apprehen- 
sive of  its  duration,  and  hold  it  as  a  principle  never  to  sue  for 
peace,  the  fii-st  overtures  for  Avhich  are  always  made  by  the  Span- 
iai'ds.  When  these  are  favourably  received,  a  conference  is  held. 
The  governor  of  Chili  and  the  Indian  general,  accompanied  hf 
the  most  distinguished  officers  of  either  party  regulate  amidst  the 
festivity  of  the  table  the  terms  of  the  agreement.  The  frontier 
was  formerly  the  theatre  of  these  assemblies  ;  but  the  two  last 
were  held   in  the  capital  of  the  colony.    The  savages  have  even 

Vol.  II.  K 


74 

This  parliament  is  renewed  as  often  as  a  new  pre- 
sident is  sent  from  Spain  to  Chili,  and  cannot  pos- 
sibly be  dispensed  with,  as  in  that  case  the  Arauca- 
nians,  imaginingthemsclves  despised,  would  without 
any  other  cause  commence  war.  For  this  reason, 
there  is  always  a  considerable  sum  ready  in  the  roy- 
al treasury  for  the  expenses  necessary  upon  these 
occasions.  On  the  arrival  of  a  new  president,  an 
envoy,  called  the  national  commissary,  is  dispatched 
in  his  name  to  the  four  Uthalmapus,  to  invite  the 
Toquis  and  the  other  Ulmenes  to  meet  liim  at  the 
place  appointed,  for  the  purpose  of  becoming  ac- 
quainted with  each  other,  and  to  confirm  the  friend- 
ship contracted  with  his  predecessors.  In  this  conven- 
tion nearly  the  same  ceremonies  are  practised  as  arc 
made  use  of  on  ratifying  a  treaty  of  peace.  The  Ul- 
menes collect  upon  this  occasion  in  great  num- 
bers, not  only  for  the  purpose  of  becoming  person- 
ally acquainted  with  the  new  governor,  but  to  form 
an  opinion,  from  his  manners  and  countenance,  of  his 
pacific  or  warlike  disposition.  This  meeting  attracts 
to  the  place  it  is  held  a  great  number  of  merchants, 
who  form  there  a  kind  of  fair  mutually  advanta- 
geous to  both  nations. 

consented  to  allow  the  residence  of  deputies  among  them,  en- 
trusted with  the  charge  of  maintaining  harmony  between  the  two 
ujL\.ioni„..Rayna¡'s  History  of  t/ie  Indies. 


75 


CHAPTER  V. 


Si/stem  of  Religion  and  Funeral  Ceremonies. 

THE  religious  system  of  the  Araucanians  is  sim- 
ple, and  Avell  adapted  to  their  free  manner  of  think- 
ing and  of  living.  They  acknowledge  a  Supreme 
Being,  the  author  of  all  things,  whom  they  call  Pil- 
lan, a  word  derived  from  pulli  or  pilli,  the  soul,  and 
signifies  the  supreme  essence  ;  they  also  call  him 
Guenu-pillan,  the  spirit  of  heaven;  Buta-gen,  th*e 
great  being  ;  Thalcove,  the  thunderer  ;  Vilvemvoe, 
the  creator  of  all  ;  Vilpepilvoe,  the  omnipotent  ;  " 
Mollgelu,  the  eternal  ;  Avnolu,  the  infinite,  &c. 

The  universal  government  of  Pillan  is  a  prototype 
of  the  Araucanian  polity.  He  is  the  great  Toqui  of 
the  invisible  world,  and  as  such  has  his  Apo-UI- 
menes,  and  his  Ulmenes,  to  whom  he  entrusts  the 
administration  of  affairs  of  less  importance.  These 
ideas  are  certainly  very  rude,  but  it  must  be  ac- 
knowledged that  the  Araucanians  are  not  the  only 
people  who  have  regulated  the  things  of  heaven  by 
those  of  the  earth. 

In  the  first  class  of  these  subaltern  divinities  is  the 
Epunamun,  or  god  of  war  ;  the  Meulen,  a  benevo- 
lent deity,  the  friend  of  the  human  race  ;  and  the 
Guecubu,  a  malignant  being,  the  author  of  all  evil, 
who  appears  to  be  the  same  as  the  Algue.  From 
hence  it  appears,  that  the  doctrine  of  two  adverse 


7€ 

principles,  improperly  called  Manicheism,  is  very 
'  extensive,  or  in  other  words,  is  found  to  be  esta- 
blished among  almost  all  the  barbarous  nations  of 
both  continents.  These  being,  from  the  unculti- 
vated state  of  their  minds,  incapable  of  investigating 
the  origin  of  good  and  evil,  and  deducing  inferences 
from  eficcts,  have  had  recourse  to  the  invention  of 
two  opposite  agents,  in  order  to  reconcile  the  appa- 
rent contradiction  in  the  natural  and  moral  govern- 
ment of  the  world. 

The  Guecubu  is  the  Mavari  of  the  Oronoques, 
and  the  Aherman  of  the  Persians.  He  is,  according 
to  the  general  opinion  of  the  Araucanians,  the  effi- 
cient cause  of  all  the  misfortunes  that  occur.  If  a 
horse  tires  it  is  because  the  Guecubu  has  rode  him. 
If  the  earth  trembles,  the  Guecubu  has  given  it  a 
shock  ;  <«or  does  any  one  die  that  is  not  suffocated 
by  tlie  Guecubu.  In  short,  this  evil  being  has  as 
great  an  influence  over  calamity  as  the  occult  quali- 
ties of  the  Cabalists  have  upon  physical  effects  ;  and 
if  his  power  was  real,  he  would  be  the  most  active 
of  ¿6.iy  agent  in  this  nether  world. 

The  Ulmenes  of  their  celestial  hierarchy  are  the 
Genii,  who  have  the  charge  of  all  created  things,  and 
who,  in  concert  with  the  benevolent  Meulen,  form  a 
counterpoise  to  the  enormous  power  of  Guecut^u. 
They  are  of  both  sexes,  male  and  female,  who  always 
continue  pure  and  chaste,  propagation  being  un- 
known in  their  system  of  the  spiritual  world.  The 
males  are  called  Gen^  that  is,  lords,  unless  this  word 
should  be  the  same  as  the  Ginn  of  the  Arabians.  The 
females  are  called  Amei-mal^hen^  which  signifies  spi. 


77 

ritual  nymphs,*  and  perform  for  men  tlie  offices  of 
Lares  or  familiar  spirits.  There  is  not  an  Araucaniaii 
but  imagines  he  has  one  of  these  in  his  service.  Nien 
cai  gni  Amchi-malghen,  I  keep  my  nymph  still,  is  a 
common  expression  when  they  succeed  in  any  un- 
dertaking. 

The  Araucanians  carry  still  farther  their  ideas  of 
the  analogy  between  the  celestial  government  and 
their  own,  for  as  their  Ulmenes  have  not  the  right 
of  imposing  any  species  of  service  or  contributions 
upon  their  subjects,  still  less  in  their  opinion  should 
those  of  celestial  race  require  it  of  man,  since  they 
have  no  occasion  for  it.  Governed  by  these  singular 
opinions,  they  pay  to  them  no  exterior  worship. 
They  have  neither  temples  nor  idols,  nor  are  they 
accustomed  to  offer  any  sacrifices,  except  in  case  of 
some  severe  calamity,  or  on  concluding  a  peace  ;  at 
such  times  they  sacrifice  animals  and  burn  tobacco, 
which  they  think  is  the  incense  most  agreeable  to 
their  deities.  Nevertheless  they  invoke  them  and 
implore  their  aid  upon  urgent  occasions,  addressing 
themselves  principally  to  Pillan  and  to  Mculen.  To 
this  little  regard  for  religion  is  owing  the  indifference 
which  they  have  manifested  at  the  introduction  of 
Christianity  among  them,  which  is  tolerated  in  all  the 
provinces  of  their  dominion.  The  missionaries  are 
there  much  respected,  well  treated,  and  have  full 
liberty  of  publicly  preaching  their  tenets,  but,  not- 
withstanding, there  are  but  few  of  the  natives  who 
are  converted. 

*  More  properly  perîs  or  fairies,  from  their  obvious  resemblance 
to  that  aerial  class  of  beings  of  oriental  oi,«jgin. 


78 

If  the  Araucanians  discover  little  rei^ard  for  their 
deities,  they  are,  however,    very  superstitious  in 
many  points  of  less  importance.     They  firmly  be- 
lieve in  divination,  and  pay  the  greatest  attention  to 
such  favourable  or  unfavourable  omens    as  the  ca- 
priciousness  of  their  imagination  may  suggest  to 
them.     These  idle  observations  arc  particularly  di- 
rected to  dreams,  tc  the  singing  and  flight  of  birds, 
which  are  esteemed  by  the  whole  of  them  the  truest 
interpreters  of  the  vill  of  the  gods.     The  fearless 
Araucanian,  who  Avith  incrediljle  valour  confronts 
death  in  battle,   trembles  at  the  sight  of  an   owl. 
Their  puerile  weakness  in  this  respect  would  appear 
incompatible  M'ith  tie  strength  of  their  intellect,  if 
the  history  of  the  hnnan  mind  did  not  furnish  us 
with  continual  examples  of  similar  contradictions. 

They  consult  upoi  all  occasions  their  diviners, 
or  pretenders  to  a  kiDwledge  of  futurity,  who  arc 
sometimes  called  C/iífiía,  and  at  others  Dugol, 
among  whom  are  sone  that  pass  for  Guenguenu, 
Genpugnu,  GenpirUy  &.C.  which  signify  masters  of 
the  heavens,  of  epidemic  diseases,  and  of  worms  or 
insects,  and  like  the  Llamas  of  Tibet  boast  of  being 
able  to  produce  nin,  of  having  the  power  to 
cure  all  disorders,  and  to  prevent  the  ravages  of  the 
worms  that  destroy  :he  corn.  They  arc  in  great 
dread  of  the  Calcui,  or  pretended  sorcerers,  who 
they  imagine  keep  concealed  by  day  in  caverns  with 
their  disciples,  callee  Ivunclics^  man-animals,  and  who 
at  night  transform  ihemselves  into  nocturnal  birds, 
make  incursions  in  ilie  air,  and  shoot  invisible  arrows 
at  their  enemies.     Their  superstitious  credulity  is 


79 

particularly  obvious,  in  the  serious  stories  that  they 
relate  of  apparitions,  phantoms  and  hobgoblins,  res- 
pecting which  they  have  innumerable  tales.  But  in 
truth,  is  there  any  nation  on  earth,  so  far  removed 
from  credulity  in  that  particular,  as  to  claim  a  right 
of  laughing  at  the  Araucanians  ?  They  have,  ne- 
vertheless, some  among  them,  who  are  philosophers 
enough  to  despise  such  absurdities,  and  laugh  at  the 
folly  of  their  countrymen. 

They  are  all,  however,  agreed  in  the  belief  of  the 
immortality  of  the  soul.  This  consolatory  truth  is 
deeply  rooted,  and  in  a  manner  innate  with  them. 
They  hold  that  man  is  composed  of  two  substances 
essentially  different  :  the  corruptible  body,  which 
they  call  anca,  and  the  soul,  am  or  pulH,  which  they 
say  is  ancanolu,  incorporeal,  and  mugealu,  eternal, 
or  existing  forever.  This  distinction  is  so  fully  es- 
tablished among  them,  that  they  frequently  make  use 
of  the  word  anca  metaphorically,  to  denote  a  part, 
the  half,  or  the  subject  of  any  thing. 

As  respects  the  state  of  the  soul  after  its  separa- 
tion from  the  body,  they  are  not,  however,  agreed. 
All  concur  in  saying,  with  the  other  American  tribes, 
that  after  death  they  go  towards  the  west  beyond  the 
sea,  to  a  certain  place  called  Gidcheman,  that  is,  the 
dwelling  of  the  men  beyond  the  mountains.  But 
some  believe  that  this  country  is  divided  into  two 
parts,  one  pleasant,  and  filled  with  every  thing 
that  is  delightful,  the  abode  of  the  good  ;  and  the 
other  desolate,  and  in  want  of  every  thing,  the  habi- 
tation of  the  wicked.  Others  are  of  opinion  that 
all  indiscriminately  enjoy  there  eternal  pleasure,  pre- 


80 

tending  that  the  deeds  of  this  life  have  no  influence 
upon  a  future  state. 

Notwithstanding  they  know  the  difference  be- 
tween the  body  and  the  soul,  their  ideas  of  the  spi- 
rituality  of  the  latter  do  not  seem  to  be  very  dis- 
tinct, as  appears  from  the  ceremonies  practised  at 
their  funerals.  As  soon  as  one  of  their  nation  dies, 
his  friends  and  relations  seat  themselves  upon  the 
ground  around  the  body,  and  weep  for  a  long  time  ; 
they  afterwards  expose  it,  cloathed  in  the  best  dress 
of  the  deceased,  upon  a  high  bier  called  p'llluay^ 
where  it  remains  during  the  night,  which  they  pass 
near  it  in  weeping,  or  in  eating  and  drinking  with 
those  who  come  to  console  them.  This  meeting  is 
called  curicahuin^  the  black  entertainment,  as  that 
colour  is  among  them,  as  well  as  the  Europeans,  the 
symbol  of  mourning.  The  following  day,  sometimes 
not  until  the  second  or  the  third  after  the  decease  of 
the  person,  they  carry  the  corpse  in  procession  to 
the  eltiin,  or  burying-place  of  the  family,  which  is 
usually  situated  in  a  wood  or  on  a  hill.  Two  young 
men  on  horseback,  riding  full  speed,  precede  the 
procession.  The  bier  is  carried  by  the  principal  re- 
lations, and  is  surrounded  by  women  who  bewail  the 
deceased  in  the  manner  of  the  hired  mourners  among 
the  Romans  ;  while  another  woman  who  walks  be- 
hind strews  ashes  in  the  road,  to  prevent  the  soul 
from  returning  to  its  late  abode.  On  arriving  at  the 
place  of  burial,  the  corpse  is  laid  upon  the  surface  of 
the  ground,  and  surrounded,  if  a  man,  with  his  arms, 
if  a  woman,  with  female  implements,  and  with  a 
great  quantity  of  provisions,  and  with  vessels  filled 


with  chica  and  with  wine,  whicli,  according-  to  their 
opinions,  are  necessary  to  subsist  them  during  their 
passage  to  another  world.  They  sometimes  even 
kill  a  horse  and  inter  it  in  the  same  q-round.  After 
these  ceremonies  they  take  leave  with  many  tears 
of  the  deceased,  wishing  him  a  prosperous  journey, 
and  cover  the  corpse  with  earth  and  stones  placed  in 
a  pyramidal  form,  upon  which  they  pour  a  great 
quantity  of  chica.  The  similarity  between  these  fu- 
neral rites  and  those  practised  by  the  ancients  must 
be  obvious  to  those  acquainted  with  the  customs  of 
the  latter. 

Immediately  after  the  relations  have  quitted  the 
deceased,  an  old  woman,  called  Tetnpuleague,  comes, 
as  the  Araucanians  believe,  in  the  shape  of  a  whale, 
to  transport  him  to  the  Elysian  fields,  but  before  his  ar- 
rival there  he  is  obliged  to  pay  a  toil  for  passing  a  very 
narrow  strait  to  another  malicious  old  woman  who 
guards  it,  and  who,  on  failure,  deprives  the  passen- 
ger of  an  eye.  This  fable  resembles  much  that  of 
the  ferryman  Charon,  not  that  there  is  any  proba- 
bility that  the  one  was  copied  from  the  other,  as  the 
human  mind,  when  placed  in  similar  situations,  will 
give  birth  to  the  same  ideas.  The  soul,  when  sepa- 
rated from  the  body,  exercises  in  another  life  the 
same  functions  that  it  performed  in  this,  with  no 
other  difference  except  that  they  are  unaccompanied 
with  fatigue  or  satiety.  Husbands  have  there  the 
same  wives  as  they  had  on  earth,  but  the  latter  have 
no  children,  as  that  happy  country  cannot  be  inhab- 
ited by  any  except  the  spirits  of  the  dead,  and  every 
thing  there  is  spiritual  or  analogous  to  it. 

Vol.  It.  I. 


«2 

According  to  their  theory,  the  soul,  notvvithstand- 
inij^  its  new  condition  of  Hfe,  never  loses  its  original 
attachments,  and  when  the  spirits  of  their  country- 
men return,  as  they  frequently  do,  they  fight  furious- 
Iv  with  those  of  their  enemies,  whenever  they  meet 
with  them  in  the  air,  and  these  combats  are  the 
origin  of  tempests,  tliunder  and  lightning.  Not  a 
storm  happens  upon  the  Andes  or  the  ocean,  which 
tlicy  do  not  ascribe  to  a  battle  between  the  souls  of 
ilieir  fellow  countrymen  and  those  of  the  Spaniards  ; 
they  say  that  the  roaring  of  the  \\ind  is  the  trampling 
of  their  horses,  the  noise  of  the  thunder  that  of  their 
drums,  and  the  flashes  of  lightning  the  fire  of  the  ar- 
tillery. If  the  storm  takes  its  course  towards  the 
Spanish  territory,  they  affirm  that  their  spirits  have 
put  to  night  those  of  the  Spaniards,  and  exclaim,  tri- 
umphantly, Inavimen^  inavimen^  piien^  laguvimen  ! 
Pursue  them,  friends,  pursue  them,  kill  them  1  If 
liie  contrary  happens,  they  are  greatly  afflicted,  and 
call  out  in  consternation,  Yavulumen^  puen^  iiamim- 
tnmeji  !  Courage,  friends,  be  firm  ! 

Their  ideas  respecting  the  origin  of  creation  arc 
so  crude  and  ridiculous  that  to  relate  them  could 
hcrve  for  little  else  than  to  show  the  weakness  of 
human  reason  when  left  to  itself.  They  have  among 
them  a  tradition  of  a  great  deluge,  in  which  only  a 
few  persons  were  saved,  who  took  refuge  upon  a 
high  mountain  called  Thegtlicg-,  the  thundering,  or 
the  sparkling,  which  had  three  points,  and  possessed 
the  property  of  moving  upon  the  water.  From 
hence  it  is  inferrible  tliat  this  deluge  was  in  conse- 
quence of  some  volcanic  eruption,  accompanied  by 


ss 

terrible  earthquakes,  and  is  probably  very  difi'ercnt 
from  that  of  Noah.  Whenever  a  violent  eartlKjiiakc 
occurs,  these  people  fiy  for  safety  to  those  mountains 
which  they  fancy  to  be  of  a  similar  appearance,  and 
which  of  course,  as  they  suppose,  must  possess  the 
same  property  of  floating  on  the  water,  assigning  as  a 
reason,  that  they  are  fearful  after  an  earthquake  that 
the  sea  will  again  return  and  deluge  the  world.  On 
these  occasions,  each  one  takes  a  good  supply  of 
provisions,  and  wooden  plates  to  protect  their  heads 
from  being  scorched,  provided  the  T/iegthrg,  when 
raised  by  the  waters,  should  be  elevated  to  the  sun. 
Whenever  they  are  told,  that  plates  made  of  earth 
would  be  much  more  suitable  for  this  purpose  than 
those  of  wood,  which  are  liable  to  be  burned,  their 
usual  reply  is,  that  their  ancestors  did  so  before 
them. 


CHAPTER  VI. 


Division  of  Time  ;  Astronomical   Ideas  ;  Mea- 
sures, 

TIME  is  divided  by  the  Araucanians,  as  with  us, 
into  years,  seasons,  months,  days  and  hours,  but  in 
a  very  different  method.  Their  year  is  solar,  and 
begins  on  the  22d  of  December,  or  immediately 
after  the  southern  solstice.     For  this   reason  they 


84 

call  this  solstice  TJmumathipantu^  the  head  and  tail  of 
the  year,  and  dcnominivte  June  Udaiitliipantu,  tlie 
divider  of  the  year,  from  its  dividing  it  into  two 
equal  parts.  These  two  essential  points  they  are 
able  to  ascertain  with  sufficient  exactness  by  means 
of  the  solstitial  shadows.  The  year  is  called  Tipan- 
tu,  the  departure,  or  course  of  the  sun.,  as  that  planet 
departs,  or  appears  to  depart  from  the  tropic  in  or- 
der to  make  its  annual  revolution  ;  it  is  divided 
into  twelve  months,  of  thirty  days  each,  as  was  that 
of  the  Egyptians  and  Persians.  In  order  to  com- 
plete the  tropical  year  they  add  five  intercalary  days, 
but  in  what  manner  they  are  introduced  I  am  not 
able  to  determine  ;  it  is,  however,  probable  they 
are  placed  in  the  last  month,  which  in  that  case  will 
have  thirty-five  days.  These  months  are  called 
generally  cujen^  or  moons,  and  must  originally  have 
been  regulated  wholly  by  the  phases  of  the  moon. 
The  proper  names  of  them,  as  near  as  they  can  be 
rendered  by  ours,  are  the  following,  which  are  de- 
rived from  the  qualities,  or  the  most  remarkable 
things  that  are  produced  in  each  month  : 

jîvim-cujen^  January — Tl.e  month  of  fruit. 

Coi¡-i-ri;Jen,  February — The  month  of  harvest. 

Glor-cvjcriy  March — The  month  of  maize. 

JRirnu-cujen,  April — The  1st  month  of  the  rimu. 

I?iarimu-cujen,  May — The  2cl  month  of  the  rimu. 

T/ior-cujen,  June — The  1st  month  of  foam. 

Inaruhor-cujen,  July — The  2d  month  of  foam. 

Huin-cujcn^  August — The  unpleasant  month. 

Pillai- cuj en ^  September — The  treacherous  month. 

Hucul-ciijen,  Oljtober — The  1st  month  of  new  ^vind-. 
Jnan-liueul-cujen^  November — 'I'he  2cl  month  of  new  winds. 
Hueviru-cujcriy       December — The  month  of  new  fruit. 


85 

The  seasons,  as  in  Europe,  consist  of  three 
months  ;  the  spring  is  called  Peitghcn^  the  summer 
Ucan,  the  autumn  Giialug,  and  the  winter  Pucham, 
To  render  the  distribution  of  the  year  uniform,  they 
also  divide  the  natural  day  into  twelve  parts,  which 
they  cvA]  g/iagcwtUy  assigning  six  to  the  day  and  six 
to  the  night,  in  the  manner  of  the  Chinese,  the  Ja- 
panese, the  Otalieitans  and  several  other  nations. 
Thus  each  gliagantu  or  Araucanian  hour  is  equal 
to  two  of  ours.  Those  of  the  day  they  determine 
by  the  height  of  the  sun,  and  those  of  the  night  by 
the  position  of  the  stars  :  but,  as  they  make  use  of 
no  instrument  for  this  purpose,  it  follows  that  this 
division  which  must  necessarily  be  unequal  accord- 
ing to  the  different  seasons  of  the  year,  will  be  much 
more  so  from  the  imperfect  manner  of  regulating  it. 
They  begin  to  number  their  hours  as  is  general  in 
Europe,  from  midnight,  and  give  to  each  a  particu- 
lar name.*  In  civil  transactions,  they  calculate  in- 
differently, either  by  days,  nights  or  mornings,  so 
that  three  days,  three  nights,  or  three  mornings  sig- 
nify the  same  thing. 

To  the  stars  in  general  they  give  the  name  of 
hiiaglen,  and  divide  them  into  several  constellations, 
which  they  call  />«/,  or  7'itha.  These  constellations 
usually  receive  their  particular  appellations  from  the 
number  of  remarkable  stars  that  compose  them. 
Thus  the  Pleiades  are  called  Ccjupal^  the  constella- 
tion of  six,  and  the  xVntarctic  Cross,  Meleritho^  the 

*  These  names,  commencing  at  midnight,  are,  Puliuen^  Ucun^ 
Thifianantii^  Maleu^  Vutamaleu,  Ragimitu,  Culunantu,  GullanCu^ 
Coiiantu,  GuvgueimntUj  Pwii,  Ragijiun, 


86 

constellation  of  four,  as  the  first  has  six  stars  that  arc 
very  apparent,  and  the  last  four.  The  Milky  Way 
is  called  Rupuepeu,  the  fabulous  road,  from  a  storj-^ 
which, like  other  nations,  they  relate  of  it,  and  which 
is  considered  as  fabulous  by  the  astronomers  of  tht 
country. 

They  are  well  acquainted  with  the  planets,  which 
they  call  Gaii,  a  word  derived  from  the  verb  gaun,  to 
wash,  from  whence  it  may  be  inferred,  that  they 
have  respecting  these  bodies,  the  same  opinion  as  the 
Romans,  that  at  their  setting  they  submerge  them- 
selves in  the  sea.  Nor  are  tlitre  wanting  Fontinelles 
among  them,  who  believe  that  many  of  those  globes 
arc  so  many  other  earths,  inhabited  in  the  same  man- 
ner as  ours  ;  for  this  reason  they  call  the  sky 
Guenu-mapu,  the  country  of  heaven  ;  and  the  moon 
Cuyen-mapu^  the  country  of  tlie  moon.  They  agree 
likewise  with  the  Aristotelians,  in  maintaining  that 
the  comets,  called  by  them  Cheruvoe,  proceed  from 
terrestrial  exhalations,  inflamed  in  the  upper  regions 
of  the  air  ;  but  they  are  not  considered  as  the  pre- 
cursors of  evil  and  disaster,  as  they  have  been  es- 
teemed by  almost  ail  the  nations  of  the  earth.  An 
eclipse  of  the  sun  is  called  by  them  Layantu^  and 
that  of  the  moon  Layciijen^  that  is,  the  death  of  the 
sun  or  of  the  moon.  But  these  expressions  are 
merely  metaphorical,  as  are  the  correspondent  ones 
in  Latin,  of  defectus  so/is,  ant  lunœ.  I  know  not 
their  opinions  of  the  cause  of  these  phenomena  ; 
but  I  have  been  informed  that  they  evince  no 
greater  alarm  upon  these  occasions  than  at  the  most 
common  operations  of  nature.     Their  language  con- 


87 

tains  several  words  wholly  applicable  to  astronom- 
ical subjects,  such  as  Thoren^  the  late  rising  of  the 
stars,  and  others  similar,  which  prove  that  their 
knowledge  in  this  respect,  is  much  greater  than 
what  is  generally  supposed.  But  my  researches 
into  their  customs,  owing  to  the  reasons  which  I 
have  already  assigned,  were  by  no  means  so  com- 
plete as  I  could  have  wished  before  I  left  the 
country. 

Their  long  n'teasures  are  the  palm,  nela^  the  span, 
(hiche^  the  foot,  namun^  the  pace,  thecan^  the  ell, 
nevcuj  and  the  league,  tupu^  which  answers  to 
the  marine  league,  or  the  parasang  of  the  Persians. 
Their  greater  distances  are  computed  by  mornings, 
corresponding  to  the  day's  journeys  of  Europe. 
Their  liquid  and  dry  measures  are  less  numerous  : 
the  guampar,  a  quart,  the  can^  a  pint,  and  the  mencuy 
a  measure  of  a  less  quantity,  serve  for  the  first. 
The  dry  measures  are  the  chiaigue^  which  contains 
about  six  pints,  and  the  gUepu^  which  is  double  that 
quantity. 

With  regard  to  the  speculative  sciences  they  have 
very  little  information.  Their  geometrical  notions 
are,  as  might  be  expected  from  an  uncultivated  peo- 
ple, very  rude  and  confined.  They  have  not  even 
proper  words  to  denote  the  principal  figures,  as  the 
point,  the  line,  the  angle,  the  triangle,  the  square, 
the  circle,  the  sphere,  the  cube,  the  cone,  &c.  Their 
language,  however,  as  we  shall  show  hereafter,  is 
flexible  and  adapted  lO  every  species  of  composition, 
whence  it  would  be  easy  to  form  a  vocabulary  of 
technical  words  to  facilitate  the  acquisition  of  the 
sciences  to  the  Araucanians. 


88 


CHAPTER  VIL 


Rhetoric  ;    Poetry  ;  Medical  Skill  ;   Commerce 
of  the  Arcnicanians. 

NOTWITHSTANDING  their  general  igno- 
ranee,  they  cultivate  successfully  the  sciences  of 
rhetoric,  poetry  and  medicine,  as  far  as  these  are  at- 
tainable by  practice  or  observation  ;  for  they  have  no 
books  among  them,  or  any  who  know  how  to  write 
or  read.  Nor  can  they  be  induced  to  learn  these 
arts,  either  from  their  aversion  to  every  thing  that 
is  practised  by  the  Europeans,  or  from  their  being- 
urged  by  a  savage  spirit  to  despise  whatever  does 
not  belong  to  their  country. 

Oratory  is  particularly  held  in  high  estimation  by 
them,  and,  as  among  the  ancient  Romans,  is  the  high 
road  to  honour  and  the  management  of  public  affairs. 
The  eldest  son  of  an  Ulmen  who  is  deficient  in  this 
talent,  is  for  that  sole  reason  excluded  from  the  right 
of  succession,  and  one  of  his  younger  brothers,  or 
the  nearest  relation  that  he  has,  who  is  an  able 
speaker,  substituted  in  his  place.  Their  parents, 
therefore,  accustom  them  from  their  childhood  to 
speak  in  public,  and  carry  them  to  their  national  as- 
semblies, where  the  best  orators  of  the  country  dis- 
])lay  their  eloquence. 

From  hence  is  derived  the  attention  which  they 
generally  pay  to  speak  their  language  correctly,  and  to 


89 

preserve  it  in  its  purity,  taking  great  care  to  avoid 
the  introduction  of  any  foreign  word,  in  which  they 
are  so  particular  that  whenever  a  foreigner  settles 
among  them,  they  oblige  him  to  relinquish  his  name 
and  take  another  in  the  Chilian  language.  The  mis- 
sionaries themselves  are  obliged  to  conform  to  this 
singular  regulation,  if  they  would  obtain  the  public 
favour.  They  have  much  to  endure  from  this  ex- 
cessive fastidiousness,  as  even  while  they  are  preach- 
ing the  audience  will  interrupt  them,  and  with  im- 
portunate rudeness  correct  the  mistakes  in  language 
or  pronunciation  that  escape  them.  Many  of  them 
are  well  acquainted  with  the  Spanish  language,  both 
from  their  frequent  communication  with  the  neigh- 
bouring Spaniards,  and  from  having  been  accustom- 
ed to  speak  a  soft,  regular  and  varied  language, 
which  readily  adapts  itself  to  the  pronunciation  of 
the  European  dialects,  as  has  been  observed  by 
Captain  Wallis  respecting  the  Patagonians,  who  are 
real  Chilians.*  They,  however,  make  but  little 
use  of  it,  none  of  them  ever  attempting  to  speak 
in  Spanish  in  any  of  the  assemblies  or  congresses 
that  have  been  held  between  the  two  nations,  on 
which  occasion  they  had  much  rather  submit  to 
the  inconvenience  of  listening  to  a  tiresome  in- 
terpreter, than,  by  speaking  another  language,  to  de- 
grade their  native  tongue. 

The  speeches  of  their  orators  resemble  those  of 
the  Asiatics,  or  more  properly  those  of  all  barbarous 
nations.     The  style  is  highly  figurative,  allegorical, 

*  Hawkes^Torth's  Voyage  of  Captain  Waliis. 
Vol.  II.  M 


90 

elevated,  aucl  replete  with  peculiar  phrases  and  ex- 
pressions that  are  employed  only  in  similar  compo- 
sitions, from  whence  it  is  called  coyagtucan^  the 
style  of  parliamentary  harangues.  They  abound 
with  i)arables  and  apologues,  which  sometimes  fur- 
nish tlie  whole  substance  of  the  discourse.  Their 
orations,  notwithstanding,  contain  all  the  essential 
parts  required  by  the  rules  of  rhetoric,  which  need 
not  excite  our  surprise,  since  the  same  principle  of 
nature  that  led  the  Greeks  to  reduce  eloquence  to 
an  art,  has  taught  the  use  of  it  to  these  people.  They 
arc  deficient  neither  in  a  suitable  exordium,  a  clear 
narrative,  a  well  founded  argument,  or  a  pathetic 
peroration.  They  commonly  divide  their  subject 
into  two  or  three  points,  which  they  call  tlioy^  and 
specify  the  number  by  saying  epii  thoy-gei  tamen 
piavirij  what  I  am  going  to  say  is  divided  into  two 
points.  They  employ  in  their  oratory  several  kinds 
of  style,  but  the  most  esteemed  is  the  rachidiiguv^ 
a  word  equivolent  to  academic. 

Their  poets  are  called  genipin,  lords  of  speech. 
This  expressive  name  is  well  applied  to  them,  since 
])Ossebsing  that  strong  enthusiasm  excited  by  pas- 
sions undebilitated  by  the  restraints  and  refinements 
of  civil  life,  they  follow  no  other  rules  in  their  com- 
positions than  the  impulse  of  their  imaginations.  Of 
course,  their  poctrj"  generally  contains  strong  and 
lively  images,  bold  figures,  frequent  allusions  and 
similitudes,  novel  and  forcible  expressions,  and  pos- 
sesses the  art  of  moving  and  interesting  the  heart  by 
exciting  its  sensibility.  Every  thing  in  it  is  meta- 
phorical and  animated,  and  allegory  is,  if  I  may  use 


91 

the  expression,  its  veiy  soul  or  essence.  Unrestriiiu- 
ed  enthusiasm  is  the  prime  chaniclei  istic  of  all  the 
poetry  of  savages  ;  such  was  that  of  the  bards  of  the 
Celts,  of  the  Scalds,  and  of  the  Danes  ;  and  the  pre- 
tended editor  of  the  poems  of  Ossian  has  discovered 
an  intimate  acquaintance  with  the  poetic  genius  of 
barbarous  nations. 

The  principal  subject  of  the  songs  of  the  Arauca- 
nians  is  the  exploits  of  their  heroes.  I  would  gladly 
have  presented  to  my  readers  some  of  these  compo- 
sitions, but  the  difliculty  of  procuring  them,  from 
the  distance  of  the  country,  has  not  permitted  me 
to  do  it.  Their  verses  ai'e  composed  mostly  in 
stanzas  of  eight  or  eleven  syllables,  a  measure  that 
appears  the  most  agreeable  to  the  human  ear.  They 
are  blank,  but  occasionally  a  rhyme  is  introduced, 
according  to  the  taste  or  caprice  of  the  poet. 

The  Araucanians  have  three  kinds  of  physicians, 
the  Ampives,  the  Vileus^  and  the  Machis.  The  Am- 
piues^  a  word  equivalent  to  empirics,  are  the  best. 
They  employ  in  their  cures  only  simples,  are  skilful 
herbalists,  and  have  some  very  good  ideas  of  the 
pulse  and  the  other  diagnostics.  The  Vileus  corres, 
pond  to  the  methodists,  or  regular  physicians.  Their 
principal  theory  is,  that  all  contagious  disorders  pro- 
ceed from  insects,  an  opinion  held  by  many  physi- 
cians in  Europe.  For  this  reason  they  generally 
give  to  epidemics  the  name  of  ciitatnpiru,  that  is  to 
say,  vermiculous  disorders,  or  diseases  of  worms. 

The  Mdchis  are  a  superstitious  class,  that  are  to 
be  met  with  among  all  the  savage  nations  of  both 
continents.  They  maintain  that  all  serious  disorders 


92: 

proceed  from  witchcraft,  and  pretend  to  cure  them 
by  supernatural  means,  for  which  reason  they  arc 
employed  iii  desperate  cases,  when  the  exertions  of 
the  Ampivesor  of  the  Vileusare  ineffectual.  Their 
mode  of  cure  is  denominated  machitún^  and  consists 
in  the  following  idle  ceremonies,  which  are  always 
performed  in  the  night  : 

The  room  of  the  sick  person  is  lighted  with  a 
great  number  of  torches,  and  in  a  corner  of  it,  among 
several  branches  of  laurel,  is  placed  a  large  bough 
of  cinnamon,  to  which  is  suspended  the  magical 
drum  ;  near  it  is  a  sheep  ready  for  sacrifice.  The 
Machi  directs  the  women  who  are  present  to  sing 
with  a  loud  voice  a  doleful  song,  accompanied  with 
the  sound  of  some  little  drums  which  they  beat  at 
the  same  time.  In  the  mean  time,  he  fumigates 
three  times  w  ith  tobacco  smoke,  the  branch  of  cin- 
namon, the  sheep,  the  singers  and  the  sick  person. 
After  this  ceremony  he  kills  the  sheep,  takes  out 
the  heart,  and  after  sucking  the  blood  fixes  it  upon 
the  branch  of  cinnamon.  He  next  approaches  the 
patient,  and  by  certain  charms  pretends  to  open  his 
belly  to  discover  the  poison  that  has  been  given  him 
by  the  pretended  sorcerer.  He  then  takes  the  ma- 
gical drum,  which  he  beats  and  sings,  walking  round 
with  the  women  ;  all  at  once  he  falls  to  the  ground 
like  a  maniac,  making  frightful  gesticulations  and 
horrible  contortions  of  his  body,  sometimes  wildly 
opening  his  eyes,  then  shutting  them,  appearing  like 
one  possessed  of  an  evil  spirit.  During  this  farcical 
scene,  the  relations  of  the  sick  interrogate  the 
Machi   upon  the  cause  and  seat  of    the   malady. 


93 

To  these  questions  the  fanatical  impostor  repHes  in 
such  a  manner  as  he  believes  best  calculated  to  pro- 
mote the  deception,  either  by  naming,  as  the  cause  of 
the  malady, some  person  whom  he  wishes  to  revenge 
himself  of,  or  by  expressing  himself  doubtfully  as  to 
the  success  of  his  incantations.  In  this  manner  these 
diabolical  mountebanks  become  very  frequently 
the  cause  of  horrible  murders,  as  the  relations  of 
the  sick,  supposing  the  accusation  true,  put  to 
death  without  pity  those  accused  of  these  practises, 
and  sometimes  involve  in  their  revenge  the  whole 
family,  if  they  are  not  strong  enough  to  resist  their 
violence.  But  these  malicious  fomenters  of  dis- 
cord are  careful  never  to  accuse  the  principal  ñimi- 
lies.  The  Machis,  though  not  invested  with  the 
sacerdotal  character,  like  the  physicians  of  most 
other  savage  nations,  greatly  resemble  in  their  im- 
postures the  Shamanis  of  Kamschatka,  the  Mofases 
of  Africa,  an  d  the  Piachis  of  the  Oronoque,  whose 
tricks  are  accurately  described  by  the  Abbé  Giii, 
in  his  history  of  the  Oronokians. 

These  physicians,  notwithstanding  the  different 
systems  that  they  pursue,  sometimes  meet  to  sa- 
tisfy the  solicitude  or  the  vanity  of  the  relations  of 
the  sick.  But  their  consultations,  which  are  called 
Thauman^  have  generally  the  same  issue  as  those  of 
the  physicians  of  Europe.  They  have  besides  these 
other  kinds  of  professoi-s  of  medicine.  The  first, 
who  may  be  stiled  surgeons,  are  skilful  in  replacing 
dislocations,  in  repairing  fractures,  and  in  curing- 
wounds  and  ulcers.  They  are  called  Gutarve,  pos- 
sess real  merit,  and  often  perform  wonderful  cures, 


94 

But  this  is  by  no  means  the  case  with  the  others, 
called  Ciipove,  from  the  verb  ciipon^  to  anatomize  ; . 
these,  infatuated  with  Machiism^  dissect  bodies,  in 
order  to  show  the  entrails,  which  they  say  are  in- 
fected with  magic  poison.  Nevertheless,  by  means 
of  this  practice,  they  acquire  ideas  by  no  means  con- 
temptible respecting  the  conformation  of  the  human 
body,  for  the  different  parts  of  which  they  have  ap- 
propriate names. 

Before  the  arrival  of  the  Spaniards,  the  Arauca- 
nians  made  use  of  bleeding,  blistering,  clysters, 
emetics,  cathartics  and  sudorifics,  all  which  re- 
medies have  ther  peculiar  names  in  their  language. 
They  let  blood  with  the  sharp  point  of  a  flint  fixed 
in  a  small  stick.  This  instrument  they  prefer  to  a 
lancet,  as  they  think  it  less  liable  to  fail.  Instead  of 
a  syringe  they  make  use,  like  the  inhabitants  of  Kam- 
schatka,  of  a  bladder,  to  which  they  apply  a  pipe. 
Their  emetics,  cathartics  and  sudorifics  are  almost 
all  obtained  from  the  vegetable  kingdom. 

Their  internal  and  external  commerce  is  very  li- 
mited ;  not  having  yet  introduced  among  them  the 
use  of  money,  every  thing  is  conducted  by  means 
of  barter.  This  is  regulated  by  a  kind  of  conven- 
tional tariif,  according  to  which  all  commercial  arti- 
cles are  appraised  under  the  name  of  Cullen^  or  pay- 
ment, as  was  the  custom  in  the  time  of  Homer.  Thus 
a  horse  or  a  bridle  forms  one  payment  ;  an  ox  two, 
Sec.  Their  external  commerce  is  carried  on  with 
the  Spaniards,  with  whom  they  exchange  ponchos 
and  animals  for  wine,  or  the  merchandize  of  Europe, 


95 

and  their  good  faith  in  contracts  of  this  kind  has 
always  been  highly  applauded.* 

*  The  Spaniard  who  engages  in  this  trade,  applies  directly  to 
the  heads  of  families.  When  he  has  obtained  the  necessary  per- 
mission, he  proceeds  to  all  the  houses,  and  distributes  indiscrimi- 
nately his  merchandize  to  all  those  who  present  themselves. 
When  he  has  completed  his  sale,  he  gives  notice  of  his  departure, 
and  all  the  purchasers  hasten  to  deliver  to  him,  in  the  first  vil- 
lage that  he  arrives  at,  the  articles  agreed  upon  ;  and  never  has 
there  been  an  instance  of  the  least  failure  of  punctuality....7?uj/7ia/'* 
History. 

The  following  is  extracted  from  the  Compendium  of  the  Geo- 
graphical, Natural,  and  Civil  History  of  Chili,  printed  in  Bologna, 
1776.  "  The  Spaniards  who  live  in  the  province  of  Maule,  and  near 
the  frontiers  of  Araucania,  carry  on  a  commerce  with  those  peo- 
ple, which  consists  in  supplying  them  with  iron  ware,  bits  for 
bridles,  cutlery,  grain  and  wine.  This  trade  is  conducted  altoge- 
ther by  the  way  of  barter,  as  it  is  not  possible  to  persuade  the  Arau- 
canians  to  open  the  gold  mines,  nor  to  produce  any  of  that  metal. 
The  returns  therefore  are  in  fionchiy  or  Indian  cloaks,  of  whicli 
they  receive  more  than  forty  thousand  annually,  in  horned  cattle, 
horses,  ostrich  feathers,  curiously  wrought  baskets,  and  other  tri- 
fles of  a  similar  kind.  This  commerce,  although  generally  pro- 
hibited, is  carried  on  in  the  Indian  country,  whither  the  traders  go 
with  their  merchandize  by  bye-roads,  and  deposit  it  in  the  cabins 
of  the  natives,  to  whom  they  readily  trust  whatever  they  wish  to 
sell,  certain  of  being  punctually  paid  at  the  time  agreed  upon, 
which  is  always  the  case,  these  Indians  observing  the  greatest  faith 
in  their  contracts." 


9Ô 


CHAPTER  VIII. 


Pride  of  the  Araucanians  ;  Kindness  and  Charity  to- 
wards each  other  ;  Mode  of  Salutation  ;  Proper 
JVames. 

ALTHOUGH  the  Araucanians  have  long  since 
emerged  from  a  savage  state,  they  nevertheless  pre- 
serve, in  many  respects,  the  prejudices  and  the  pecu- 
liar character  of  that  early  period.  Proud  of  their 
valour  and  unbounded  liberty,  they  believe  them- 
selves the  only  people  in  the  world  that  deserve  the 
name  of  men.  From  hence  it  is  that,  besides  the  ap- 
pellation of  auca,  or  free,  which  they  value  so  high- 
ly, they  give  themselves  metonymically  the  names 
of  che,  or  the  nation  ;  oïreche,  pure  or  undegenerat- 
cd  nation  ;  and  of  huentu,  men  ;  a  word  of  similar 
signification  with  the  vir  of  the  Latins,  and  as  the  lat- 
ter is  the  root  of  the  word  virtus,  so  from  the  former 
is  derived  hue?itugen,  which  signifies  the  same  thing. 

From  this  ridiculous  pride  proceeds  the  contempt 
Avith  which  they  regard  all  other  nations.  To  the 
Spaniards  they  gave,  on  their  first  knowledge  of 
them,  the  nickname  of  cJiiapi,  vile  soldiers,  from 
whence  proceeded  the  denomination  of  chiopetony 
by  which  they  are  known  in  South  America.  They 
afterwards  called  them  huinca  ;  this  injurious  appel- 
lation, which  from  time  and  custom  has  lost  its  odi- 
ousness,  comes  from  the  verb //«i//c«;z,  which  signi- 


97 

fies  to  assassinate.  It  is  true  that  in  their  first  bat- 
tles the  Spaniards  gave  tliem  too  much  reason  for 
applying  to  them  these  opprobrious  epithets,  which 
serve  to  the  present  time  to  denote  one  of  that  na- 
tion. Esteeming  themselves  fortunate  in  their  bar- 
barity, they  call  those  Indians  who  live  in  the  Spanish 
settlements  cidme-hidnca^  or  wretched  Spaniards. 
To  the  other  Europeans,  the  English,  French  and 
Italians,  whom  they  readily  distinguish  from  each 
other,  they  give  the  name  of  maruchey  which  is 
equivalent  to  the  term  moro,  used  by  the  common 
people  of  Spain  to  denote  all  strangers  indiscrimi- 
nately. They  call  each  o\k\.tr  pegni^  that  is  brothers, 
and  even  apply  the  same  name  to  those  born  in  their 
country  of  foreign  parents. 

The  benevolence  and  kindness  with  which  these 
people  generally  treat  each  other  is  really  surprising. 
For  the  word  friend  they  have  six  or  seven  very  ex- 
pressive terms  in  their  language,  among  others  that 
of  canay,  which  corresponds  to  the  alter  ego  of  the 
Latins.  The  relations  that  result  from  correspond- 
ing situations  or  common  concerns  in  life  are  so 
many  ties  of  regard,  and  are  expressed  by  appropri- 
ate words  denoting  particular  friendship  or  good 
will.  Those  who  have  the  same  name  call  each 
other  laca,  and  those  who  bear  but  a  part  of  the 
name,  apellaca.  These  denominations  incur  an  ob- 
ligation of  mutual  esteem  and  aid.  Relations  by 
consanguinity  are  called  in  general  monmaguey  and 
those  of  affinity,  guillati.  Their  table  of  genealogy 
is  more  intricate  than  that  of  the  Europeans,  all  the 
Vol.  li  N 


98 

Gonceivable  degrees  of  relationship  being  indicated 
therein  by  particular  names. 

From  the  mutual  aô'ection  that  subsists  between 
them,  proceeds  their  solicitude  reciprocally  to  assist 
each  other  in  their  necessities.  Not  a  beggar  or  an 
indigent  person  is  to  be  found  throughout  the  whole 
Araucanian  territory  ;  even  the  most  infirm  and  in- 
capable of  subsistingthemselves  are  decently  clothed. 

This  benevolence  is  not,  however,  confined  only 
to  their  countrymen  :  they  conduct  with  the  great- 
est hospitality  towards  all  strangers  of  whatever  na- 
tion, and  a  traveller  may  live  in  any  part  of  their 
country  without  the  least  expense. 

Their  usual  expression  whenever  they  meet  is 
7nari?nari,  and  when  they  quit  each  other  vente?npi, 
or  venteni.  They  are  rather  tiresome  in  their  com- 
pliments, which  are  generally  too  long,  as  they  take 
a  pride  upon  such  occasions,  as  well  as  every  other, 
in  making  a  display  of  their  eloquence.  The  right 
hand  is  among  them,  as  with  the  Europeans,  the 
most  honourable  station,  contrary  to  the  practice  of 
the  Asiatics,  with  whom  the  left  enjoys  that  privi- 
lege. They  are  naturally  fond  of  honourable  dis- 
tinction, and  there  is  nothing  they  can  endure  with 
less  patience  than  contempt  or  inattention.  From 
hence,  if  a  Spaniard  speaks  to  one  of  them  with 
his  hat  on,  he  immediately  says  to  him  in  an  in- 
dignant tone,  cjitugo  ta/ni  curtesia,  take  off  your 
hat.  By  attention  and  courtesy,  any  thing  may  be 
obtained  from  them,  and  the  favours  which  they  re- 
ceive make  an  indelible  impression  upon  their  minds, 
while  on  the  contrary,  ill  treatment  exasperates  them 


99 

to  such  a  degree,  that  they  proceed  to  tlie  greatest 
excesses  to  revenge  themselves. 

The  names  of  the  Araucanians  are  composed  of 
the  proper  name,  which  is  generally  either  an  adjec- 
tive or  a  numeral,  and  the  family  appellation  or  sur- 
name, which  is  always  placed  after  the  proper  name, 
according  to  the  European  custom,  as  cari-leimi^ 
green  bush  ;  meli-antu,  four  suns.  The  first  denotes 
one  of  the  family  of  the  lemus,  or  bushes,  and  the 
second  one  of  that  of  the  antus^  or  suns.  Nor  is 
there  scarcely  a  material  object  which  does  not 
furnish  them  with  a  discriminative  name.  From 
hence,  we  meet  among  them  with  the  families  of 
Rivers,  Mountains,  Stones,  Lions,  Sec.  These  fa- 
milies, which  are  called  cuga^  or  elpa^  are  more  or 
less  respected  according  to  their  rank,  or  the  heroes 
they  have  given  to  their  country.  The  origin  of 
these  surnames  is  unknown,  but  is  certainly  of  a 
period  much  earlier  than  that  of  the  Spanish  con- 
quests. 


»e«94 


CHAPTER  IX. 


Matrimony  and  Domestic  Employments. 

BY  the  aclmapu  polygamy  is  allowed  among  the 
Araucanians,  whence  they  marry  as  many  wives  as 
they  can  furnish  with  a  dcwer,  or  more  properly  pur- 


100 

chase,  as  to  obtain  them  they  must  give  to  their  fa- 
thers a  certain  amount  of  property,  as  has  been  and 
still  is  the  practice  in  most  countries  of  both 
continents.  But  in  their  marriages  they  scrupu- 
lously avoid  the  more  immediate  degrees  of  rela- 
tionship. Celibacy  is  considered  as  ignominious. 
Old  batchelors  are  called  by  way  of  contempt  vuchu 
apra^  and  old  maids  cudepra^  that  is,  old,  idle,  good 
for  nothing. 

Their  marriage  ceremonies  have  little  formality, 
or,  to  speak  more  accurately,  consist  in  nothing 
more  than  in  carrying  off  the  bride  by  pretended 
violence,  which  is  considered  by  them,  as  by  the 
negroes  of  Africa,  an  essential  prerequisite  to  the 
nuptials.  The  husband,  in  concert  with  the  father^ 
conceals  himself  wdth  some  friends  near  the  place 
where  they  know  the  bride  is  to  pass.  As  soon  as 
she  arrives  she  is  seised  and  put  on  horseback  be- 
hind the  bridegroom,  notwithstanding  her  pretended 
resistance  and  her  shrieks,  which  are  far  from  being 
serious.  In  this  manner  she  is  conducted  with  much 
noise  to  the  house  of  her  husband,  where  her  rela- 
tions are  assembled,  and  receive  the  presents  agreed 
upon,  after  having  partaken  of  the  nuptial  entertain- 
ment. Of  course,  the  expenses  of  an  Araucanian 
wedding  are  by  no  means  inconsiderable,  from 
whence  it  happens  that  the  rich  alone  can  maintain 
any  considerable  number  of  wives.  The  poor  con- 
tent themselves  with  one  or  tv/o  at  most.  Nor  does 
tliere  arise  any  inconvenience  from  the  scarcity  of 
women,  as  the  number  of  females  is  much  greater 


101 

than  that  of  males,  which  is  always  the  case  in  those 
countries  where  polygamy  is  permitted. 

The  first  wife,  \\'ho  is  called  unendomo^  is  always 
respected  as  the  real  and  legitimate  one  by  all  the 
others,  who  are  called  inandomo,  or  secondary  wives. 
She  has  the  management  of  the  domestic  concerns, 
and  regulates  the  interior  of  the  house.  The  hus- 
band has  much  to  do  to  maintain  harmony  among 
so  many  women,  who  are  not  a  little  inclined  to  jea- 
lousy, and  each  night  at  supper  makes  known  his 
choice  of  her  who  is  to  have  the  honour  of  sharing 
his  bed,  by  directing  her  to  prepare  it.  The  others 
sleep  in  the  same  room,  and  no  one  is  permitted  to 
approach  them.  Strangers,  on  their  arrival,  are  lodg- 
ed in  a  cabin  entirely  separate  from  this  seraglio. 

The  wives  have  the  greatest  respect  for  their  hus- 
bands, and  generally  give  him  the  title  of  buta,  or 
great.  Besides  female  occupations,  they  are  obliged 
to  employ  themselves  in  many  that,  in  civilized 
countries,  are  considered  as  the  peculiar  province  of 
the  men,  according  to  the  established  maxim  of  all 
barbarous  nations,  that  the  weaker  sex  are  born  to  la- 
bour, and  the  stronger  to  make  war  and  to  command. 
Each  of  them  is  obliged  to  present  to  her  husband 
daily  a  dish  prepared  by  herself  in  her  separate 
kitchen  or  fire-place  ;  for  this  reason  the  houses  of 
the  Araucanians  have  as  many  fires  as  there  are  wo- 
men inhabiting  them  ;  whence,  in  inquiring  of  any 
one  how  many  wives  he  has,  they  make  use  of  the 
following  phrase  as^Dcing  the  most  polite,  tnuri  on- 
thalgeimi,  how  many  fires  do  you  keep.  Each  wife 
is  also  obliged  to  furnish  her  husband  yearly,  besides 


102 

his  necessary  clothing,  with  one  of  those  cloaks  al- 
ready descril)ed  called  ponchos,  which  form  one  of 
the  principal  branches  of  the  Araucanian  commerce. 

The  greatest  attention  is  paid  by  the  women  to 
the  cleanliness  of  their  houses,  which  they  sweep,  as 
well  as  their  courts,  several  times  in  the  course  of  a 
day  ;  and  whenever  they  make  use  of  ariy  utensil 
they  immediately  wash  it,  for  which  purpose  their 
houses  are  supplied  with  an  abundance  of  running 
water.  The  same  attention  to  cleanliness  is  paid  to 
their  persons  ;  they  comb  their  heads  twice  a  day, 
and  once  a  week  wash  them  with  a  soap  made  from 
the  bark  of  the  quillai^^  which  keeps  the  hair  very 
clean.  There  is  never  to  be  seen  on  their  clothes 
the  least  spot  or  dirt.  The  men  are  likewise  equal- 
ly as  fond  of  cleanliness  ;  they  never  fail  to  comb 
their  heads  every  day,  and  are  also  accustomed  fre- 
quently to  wash  them. 

Bathing,  as  among  the  ancients,  is  in  common 
use  with  these  people,' who  think  it  necessary  to  pre- 
serve their  health  and  strengthen  their  bodies,  and 
in  order  to  have  it  convenient  they  are  careful  to 
place  their  houses  on  the  banks  of  rivers.  In  warm 
weather  they  bathe  themselves  several  times  a  day, 
and  it  is  rare  even  in  winter  that  they  do  not  bathe 
themselves  at  least  once  a  day  ;  by  means  of  this 
continued  exercise  they  become  excellent  swimmers, 
and  give  wonderful  proofs  of  dexterity  in  this  art. 
They  wúU  swim  for  a  great  distance  under  water,  and 

*  Quillaia  Safionaria  ;  it  is  also  much  used  by  the  Spaniards, 
especially  tKobe  who  live  in  the  country. 


103 

in  this  manner  cross  their  largest  rivers,   which  ren- 
ders them  some  of  the  best  clivers  in  tlie  world. 

The  M^omen  are  also  fond  of  frequent  bathing, 
and  for  this  purpose,  select  the  most  obscure  solitary 
places,  at  a  great  distance  from  the  men.  Even  on 
the  very  day  of  the  birth  of  a  child,  they  take  the 
infant  to  the  river  and  wash  it,  and  also  themselves, 
and  within  a  short  time  return  to  their  customary 
occupations,  without  experiencing  any  inconve- 
nience ;  so  true  it  is,  that  the  human  constitution  is 
not  naturally  delicate,  but  is  rendered  so  by  our  cus- 
toms and  modes  of  living.  Child-birth  is  with  them 
attended  with  little  pain,  which  must  be  attributed 
to  the  strength  of  their  constitutions  ;  for  a  similar  rea- 
son the  women  of  the  lower  classes  in  Europe,  ac- 
cording to  the  statement  of  Doctor  Bland,  in  the 
Philosophical  Transactions,  experience  a  more  easy 
delivery  than  the  ladies,  and  are  less  subject  to  sick- 
ness in  consequence. 

Whether  directed  merely  by  the  impulse  of  sim- 
ple nature,  or  actuated  by  their  solicitude  to  furnish 
strong  men  to  the  state,  they  rear  their  children  in  a 
very  different  manner  from  what  is  practised  in  ci- 
vilized countries.  When  they  have  washed  them 
in  running  water,  as  I  have  already  observed,  they 
neither  swathe  nor  bandage  them,  but  place  them  in 
a  hanging  cradle,  called  chigua,  lined  with  soft  skins, 
where  they  merely  cover  them  with  a  cloth,  and 
swing  them  from  time  to  time  by  means  of  a  cord 
attached  to  the  cradle,  which  leaves  them  more  at  li- 
berty to  attend  to  their  domestic  concerns. 


104 

Wlien  their  children  begin  to  walk,  which  is  very 
soon,  they  neither  put  them  into  stays  nor  any  other 
confined  dress,  but  keep  them  loosely  clad,  and  let 
them  go  any  where  and  eat  what  they  please. 
Formed  thus,  as  it  were,  by  themselves,  they  be- 
come well  shaped  and  robust,  and  less  subject  to 
those  infirmities  that  are  the  consequence  of  a  tender 
and  a  delicate  education.  Indeed,  the  maladies  that 
prevail  among  the  Araucanians  are  but  few,  and  are 
for  the  most  part  reducible  to  inflammatory  fevers, 
originating  either  from  intemperance  in  drinking,  or 
to  the  excessive  exercise  which  they  sometimes  use. 

If  the  physical  education  of  the  Araucanian  chil- 
dren is  in  a  certain  degree  laudable,  the  moral  edu- 
cation which  they  receive  will  not  certainly  meet 
with  our  entire  approbation.  It  is,  nevertheless,  con- 
formable to  the  ideas  of  that  high-minded  people, 
respecting  the  innate  liberty  of  man,  and  such  as 
may  be  expected  from  an  uncivilized  nation.  Their 
fathers  are  satisfied  with  instructing  thchn  in  the  use 
of  arms,  and  the  management  of  horses,  and  ia 
learning  them  to  speak  their  native  language  with 
elegance.  In  other  respects  they  leave  them  at  li- 
berty to  do  whatever  they  please,  and  praise  them 
whenever  they  see  them  insolent,  saying  that  in  this 
manner  they  learn  to  become  men.  It  is  very  unu- 
sual for  them  to  chastise  or  correct  them,  as  they 
hold  it  as  an  established  truth,  that  chastisement 
only  renders  men  base  and  cowardly. 


105 


CHAPTER  X. 


Food  ;  Music  and  other  Diversions, 

THE  usual  diet  of  the  Araucanians  is  very  sim- 
ple ;  their  principal  subsistence  is  several  kinds  of 
grain  and  pulse,  which  they  prepare  in  a  variety  of 
different  modes.  They  are  particularly  fond  of  maize 
or  Indian  corn,  and  potatoes  ;  of  the  last  they  have 
cultivated  more  than  thirty  différent  kinds  from  time 
immemorial,  esteeming  them  a  very  healthy  nutri- 
ment, which  the  experience  of  ages  has  sufficiently 
demonstrated.  Although  they  have  large  and  small 
animals  and  birds  in  plenty,  yet  they  eat  but  little 
flesh,  and  that  is  simply  boiled  or  roasted.  They 
have  the  same  abstemiousness  in  the  use  of  pork, 
from  which  they  know  very  well  how  to  prepare 
black  puddings  and  sausages.  Their  seas  and  rivers 
abound  with  excellent  fish,  but  they  do  not  much  es- 
teem this  kind  of  aliment.  Instead  of  bread,  which 
they  arc  not  accustomed  to  eat  except  at  their  enter- 
tainments, they  make  use  of  small  cakes  or  roasted 
potatoes  with  a  little  salt.  Their  usual  drinks  con- 
sist of  various  kinds  of  beer  and  of  cider,  made 
from  Indian  corn,  from  apples  and  other  fruits 
of  the  country.  They  are  nevertheless  extremely 
fond  of  wine,  which  they  purchase  from  the  Span- 
iards, but  hitherto,  either  for  political  reasons, 
or   more   probably  from   carelessness,   they   have 

Vol.  ÏI.  "  O 


106 

p:\id  no  attention  to  the  raising  of  vines,  which,  as 
has  been  proved  by  experiment,  produce  very  well 
in  all  their  provinces. 

The  master  of  the  house  eats  at  the  same  table 
with  the  rest  of  his  familv.  The  plates  are  earthen, 
and  the  spoons  and  cups  are  made  of  horn  or  wood. 
The  Ulmenes  have  in  general  wrought  plate  for  the 
service  of  their  tables,  but  they  only  make  use  of  it 
when  they  entertain  some  stranger  of  rank  ;  upon 
such  occasions  they  ostentatiously  display  it,  being 
naturally  fond  of  show,  andof  being  considered  rich. 
Their  seasonings  are  made  of  Guinea  pepper,  of 
viadi,  and  salt.  In  summer  they  are  fond  of  dining 
in  the  shade  of  trees,  which  for  this  purpose  arc  al- 
ways planted  around  their  houses.  They  do  not  use 
the  fiint  for  the  purpose  of  obtaining  fire,  but  em- 
ploy, like  the  Kamtschatdales,  two  pieces  of  dry- 
wood,  one  of  which  they  place  upon  another,  and 
turn  it  in  their  hands  until  it  takes  fire,  which  is  very 
soon.  Besides  dinner,  supper  and  breakfast,  they 
liave  every  day  without  fail  their  luncheon,  which 
consists  of  a  little  fiour  of  parched  corn,  steeped  in 
hot  water  in  the  morning,  and  in  cold  in  the  even- 
ing. 

But  they  often  deviate  from  this  simple  mode  of 
living  at  the  public  entertainments,  which  they  give 
each  other  on  occasion  of  funerals,  marriages,  or  any 
other  important  event.  At  such  times  no  expense 
is  spared,  and  they  are  profuse  of  every  thing  that 
can  promote  festivity.  In  one  of  these  banquets,  at 
which  it  is  common  for  three  hundred  persons  to 
be  present,    more  meat,   grain  and  liquor  is  con- 


107 

sumed,  than  would  be  sufficient  to  support  a  whole 
family  for  two  years.  It  is  usual  for  one  of  these 
feasts  to  continue  two  or  three  days  ;  they  are  called 
cahuin,  or  circles,  from  the  company  seating  them- 
selves in  a  circle  around  a  large  branch  of  cinna- 
mon. 

Such  entertainments  are  made  gratuitously,  and 
any  person  whatever  is  permitted  to  participate  in 
them  without  the  least  expense  or  requisition.  But 
this  is  not  the  case  with  the  mingacos^  or  those  din- 
ners which  they  are  accustomed  to  make  on  occasion 
of  cultivating  their  land,  threshing  their  grain,  build- 
ing a  house,  or  any  other  work  which  requires  the 
combined  aid  of  several.  At  such  times  all  those 
who  wish  to  partake  in  the  feast  must  labour  until 
the  work  is  completed.  But  as  these  people  have 
abundant  leisure,  the  labourers  convene  in  such 
numbers,  that  in  a  very  few  hours  the  work  is  finish- 
ed, and  the  rest  of  the  day  is  devoted  to  feasting  and 
drinking.  The  Spaniards  who  live  in  the  country 
have  also  adopted  a  similar  plan,  availing  themselves 
of  the  same  kind  of  industry  to  complete  their  rural 
labours. 

Fermented  liquors,  in  the  opinion  of  the  Arauca- 
nians,  form  the  principal  requisites  of  an  entertain- 
ment ;  for  whenever  they  are  not  in  plenty,  what- 
ever may  be  the  quantity  of  provisions,  they  mani- 
fest great  dissatisfaction,  exclaiming  golingelai,  it  is 
a  wretched  feast,  there  is  no  drink.  These  baccha- 
nalian revels  succeed  each  other  almost  without  in- 
terruption throughout  the  year,  as  every  man  of  pro- 
perty is  ambitious  of  the  honour  of  giving  them,  so 


108 

that  it  may  be  said  that  the  Araucanians,  when  not 
engaged  in  W£ir,  pass  the  greater  part  of  their  lives  in 
revelry  and  amusement.  Music,  dancing  and  play 
form  their  customary  diversions.  As  to  the  first,  it 
scarcely  deserves  the  name,  not  so  much  from  the 
imperfection  of  the  instruments,  which  are  the  same 
they  make  use  of  in  war,  but  from  their  manner  of 
singing,  which  has  something  in  it  harsh  and  disa- 
greeable to  the  ear,  until  one  has  been  accustomed 
to  it  for  a  long  time.  They  have  several  kinds  of 
dances,  which  are  lively  and  pleasing,  and  possess 
considerable  variety.  The  women  are  rarely  per- 
mitted to  dance  with  the  men,  but  form  their  com- 
panies apart,  and  dance  to  the  sound  of  the  same  in- 
struments. 

If  what  the  celebrated  Leibnitz  asserts  is  true,  that 
men  have  never  discovered  greater  talents  than  in 

o 

the  invention  of  the  diiferent  kinds  of  games,  the 
Araucanians  may  justly  claim  the  merit  of  not  being 
in  this  respect  inferior  to  other  nations.  Their 
games  are  very  numerous,  and  for  the  most  part  very 
ingenious  ;  they  are  divided  into  the  sedentary  and 
gymnastic.  It  is  a  curious  fact,  and  worthy  of  no- 
tice, that  among  the  first  is  the  game  of  chess,  which 
they  call  co?ràcan,  and  which  has  been  known  to 
them  from  time  immemorial.  The  game  of  quechu, 
which  they  esteem  highly,  has  a  great  affinity  to  that 
of  backgammon,  but  instead  of  dice  they  make  use 
of  triangular  pieces  of  bone  marked  with  points, 
which  they  throw  with  a  little  hoop  or  circle  support- 
ed by  two  pegs,  as  was,  probably,  X\\t  fritillus  of  the 
ancient  Romans. 


109 

Theyouth  exercise  themselves  frequently  in  wrest- 
ling and  running.  They  are  also  much  attached  to 
playing  with  the  ball  ;  it  is  called  by  them  pilma^  and 
is  made  from  a  species  of  rush.  But  of  all  their 
gymnastic  games  that  require  strength,  the  penco 
and  the  palican  are  the  best  suited  to  their  genius,  as 
they  serve  as  an  image  of  war.  The  first,  which  re- 
presents the  siege  of  a  fortress,  is  conducted  in  the 
following  manner  :  Twelve  or  more  persons  join 
hands  and  form  a  circle,  in  the  centre  of  which  stands 
a»  little  boy  ;  their  adversaries,  who  are  equal  in 
number,  and  sometimes  superior,  endeavour  by 
force  or  stratagem  to  break  the  circle,  ahd  make 
themselves  masters  of  the  child,  in  which  the  victory 
consists.  But  this  attempt  is  by  no  means  so  easy 
as  it  may  seem.  The  defenders  make  almost  in- 
credible efforts  to  keep  themselves  closely  united, 
whence  the  beseigers  are  often  compelled,  by  this 
obstinate  defence,  to  relinquish  the  attempt  through 
weariness. 

The  palicany  which  the  Spaniards  call  chueca,  re- 
sembles the  arpasto  or  spkero  machia  of  the  Greeks, 
and  the  calcio  of  the  Florentines.  This  game  has 
every  appearance  of  a  regular  battle,  and  is  played 
with  a  wooden  ball,  called  pali,  on  a  plain  of  about 
half  a  mile  in  length,  the  boundaries  of  which  are 
marked  with  branches  of  trees.  The  players,  to 
the  number  of  thirty,  furnished  with  sticks  curved 
at  the  end,  arrange  themselves  in  two  files,  disposed 
in  such  a  manner  that  each  of  them  stands  opposite 
to  his  adversary  ;  when  the  judges  appointed  to  pre- 
side at  the  game  give  the  signal,  the  two  adversaries 


lio 

who  occupy  the  eighth  station  advance,  and  with 
their  sticks  remove  the  ball  from  a  hole  in  the  earth, 
when  each  endeavours  to  strike  it  towards  his  party  ; 
the  others  impel  it  forward  or  backward,  according 
to  the  favourable  or  unfavourable  course  it  is  pur- 
suing, that  party  obtaining  the  victory  to  whose  li- 
mits it  is  driven.  From  hence  proceeds  a  severe 
contest  between  them,  so  that  it  sometimes  happens 
that  a  single  match  requires  more  than  a  half  a  day 
to  finish  it.  This  game  has  its  established  laws, 
which  the  judges  oblige  them  very  strictly  to  ob- 
serve ;  notwithstanding  which,  many  disputes  oc- 
cur. The  successful  players  acquire  great  reputa- 
tion, and  are  invited  to  all  the  principal  parties  that 
are  made  in  the  country.  When  two  provinces 
challenge  each  other,  as  frequently  happens,  this 
amusement  becomes  a  public  spectacle.  An  im- 
mense crowd  of  people  collect,  and  bet  very  largely. 
The  peasants  of  the  Spanish  provinces  have  intro- 
duced among  them  this  game,  and  their  families, 
in  reference  to  it,  are  divided  into  two  parties 
called  plazas  and  lampas.  It  has  become  one  of 
their  most  favourite  amusements,  notwithstanding 
the  proclamations  issued  from  time  to  time  by  go- 
Tcrnment  against  all  those  who  encourage  or  pro- 
mote it. 

What  wc  have  said  of  the  Araucanians  docs  not 
altogether  apply  to  the  Puelches,  or  inhabitants  of 
the  fourth  Uthalmapu,  situated  in  the  Andes.  These, 
although  they  conform  to  the  general  customs  of 
the  nation,  always  discover  a  greater  degree  of  rude- 
ness and  savageness  of  manners.     Their  name  sig- 


Ill 

nifies  eastern-men.  They  are  of  lofty  stature,  and 
are  fond  of  hunting,  which  induces  them  frequently 
to  change  their  habitations,  and  extend  their  settle- 
ments not  only  to  the  eastern  skirts  of  the  Andes, 
but  even  to  the  borders  of  the  lake  Aague/guapif 
and  to  the  extensive  plains  of  Patagonia  on  the  shores 
of  the  north  sea.  The  Araucanians  hold  these 
mountaineers  in  high  estimation  for  the  important 
services  which  they  occasionally  render  them,  and 
for  the  fidelity  which  they  have  ever  observed  in 
their  alliance  with  them. 


I 


.  THE 

CIVIL  IIISTOPvY 


OF 


CHILL 


BOOK  III. 


CHAPTER  I. 

The  Araucanians  attack  the  Spaniards  under  the  con^ 

duct  of  Aillavila,  and  aftei~wards  that  of  Lincoyan  ; 

Valdivia  makes  incursions  into  their  territory  and 

founds   therein  the  cities  of  Imperial,    Villaricay 

Valdivia  and  Angol,  xuith  several  other  places. 

THE  Araucanians  having  resolved,  as  was  men- 
tioned in  the  first  book,  to  send  succours  to  the  in- 
habitants of  Penco,  who  were  invaded  by  the  Span- 
iards, gave  orders  to  the  Toqui  Aillavilu  to  march 
immediately  to  their  assistance  at  the  head  of  4000 
men.  In  the  year  1550,  tliat  general  passed  the 
great  river  Bio-bio,  which  separates  the  Araucanian 
territory  from  that  of  the  Pencones,  and  boldly  of- 
fered battle  to  these  new  enemies,  who  had  advanced 
to  meet  him  to  the  shores  of  the  Andalien. 

After  the  first  discharge  of  musketry,  which  the 
Araucanians    sustained  without  being  terrified  or 

Vol.  II.  P 


114 

disconcerted,  thus  early  manifesting  how  little  they 
\\-oiild  regard  it  when  rendered  familiar  by  habit, 
Aillavalu,  with  a  rapid  movement,  fell  at  once  upon 
the  front  and  flanks  of  the  Spanish  army.  They  on 
their  part  forming  themselves  into  a  square,  support- 
ed by  their  cavalry,  received  the  furious  attacks  of 
the  enemy  with  their  accustomed  valour,  killing  a 
great  number  of  them,  but  losing  at  the  same  time 
many  of  their  own  men.  The  battle  remained  un- 
decided for  several  hours.  The  Spaniards  were 
thre\\'n  into  some  disorder,  and  their  general  was  ex- 
posed to  imminent  danger,  having  had  his  horse  kill- 
ed under  him,  when  Aillavalu,  hurried  forwards  by 
a  rash  courage,  received  a  mortal  wound.  The  Arau- 
canians,  having  lost  their  general,  with  many  of  their 
most  valiant  officers,  then  retired,  but  in  good  order, 
leaving  the  field  to  the  Spaniards,  who  had  no  dis- 
position to  pursue  them. 

Valdivia,  who  had  been  in  many  battles  in  Eu- 
rope as  well  as  America,  declared  that  he  had  never 
been  exposed  to  such  imminent  hazard  of  his  life, 
as  in  this  engagement  ;  and  much  astonished  at  the 
valour  and  military  skill  of  these  people,  he  imme- 
diately set  about  constructing  a  strong  fortification 
near  the  city,  expecting  shortly  to  be  attacked  again. 
In  fact,  no  sooner  were  the  Araucanians  informed  of 
the  death  of  their  general,  than  they  sent  against  him 
another  army  still  more  numerous,  under  the  com- 
mand of  Lincoyau.  This  officer  from  his  gigantic 
stature,  and  a  certain  show  of  courage,  had  acquired 
lálgh  reputation  among  his  companions  in  arms,  but 


115 

he  was  naturally  timid  and  irresolute,  and  was  much 
better  suited  for  a  subaltern  station  than  for  that  oï 
commander  in  chief. 

The  new  Toqui,  in  the  year  1551,  formed  his 
troops  into  three  divisions,  and  marched  to  attack 
the  Spaniards.  Such  was  the  terror  inspired  by  the 
approach  of  the  Araucanians,  that  the  Spaniards,  af- 
ter confessing*  themselves  and  partaking  of  the  sacra- 
ment, took  shelter  under  the  cannon  of  their  forti- 
fications. But  Lincoyan,  finding  the  first  attack  un- 
successful, apprehensive  of  losing  the  army  commit- 
ted to  his  charge,  ordered  a  precipitate  retreat,  to  the 
great  surprise  of  Valdivia,  who,  apprehensive  of 
some  stratagem,  forbad  his  soldiers  to  pursue  them. 
When  it  was  discovered  that  the.enemy  had  retreat- 
ed in  good  earnest,  they  began  to  consider  their  flight 
as  a  special  mark  of  the  favour  of  heaven,  and,  in 
the  fervour  of  their  enthusiasm,  there  were  not  want- 
ing some  who  declared  that  they  had  seen  the 
Apostle  St.  James  upon  a  white  horse  with  a  flaming 
sword  striking  terror  into  their  enemies.*     These 

*  This  Apostle  appears  to  have  been  a  very  convenient  person- 
age, and  very  ready  with  his  aid  upon  all  such  occasions  to  tlie 
Spaniards  of  that  period.  Bernai  Diaz,  in  liis  true  history  of  the 
conquest  of  Mexico,  in  giving  an  account  of  a  similar  story,  thus 
expresses  himself  with  his  peculiar  7iah>eté.  "  In  his  account  of 
this  action  Gomara  says,  that  previous  to  the  arrival  of  the  main 
body  of  the  cavalry  under  Cortes,  Francisco  de  Moría  appeared 
in  the  field  upon  a  grey  dappled  horse,  and  that  it  was  one  of  the 
holy  apostles,  St.  Peter  or  St.  Jago,  disguised  under  his  person.  I 
say,  that  all  our  works  and  victories  are  guided  by  the  hand  of  our 
Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  that  in  this  battle  there  were  so  many  ene- 
mies to  every  one  of  us,  that  they  could  have  buried  us  under  the 
dust  they  could  have  held  in  their  hands,  but  that  the  great  mercy 


116 

declarations  were  readily  believed,  and  the  whole 
army,  in  consequence,  unanimously  agreed  to  build 
a  chapel  upon  the  field  of  battle,  which  a  few  years 
after  was  dedicated  to  that  apostle.  But  this  miracle, 
which  is  not  entitled  to  greater  credit  from  its  having 
been  so  frequently  repeated,  proceeded  alone  from 
the  circumspection  and  timidity  of  Lincoyan. 

The  Spanish  general,  Avho  was  now  in  some  mea- 
sure freed  from  the  restraint  imposed  upon  him  by 
the  x\raucanians,  applied  himself  with  great  dili- 
gence to  building  the  new  city.  Although  he  had 
fixed  upon  St.  Jago  for  the  capital  of  the  colony,  he 
nevertheless  discovered  a  strong  predilection  for 
this  maritime  settlement,  considering  it  as  the  fu- 
ture centre  of  the  communication  with  Peru  and 
Spain.  Here  he  likewise  intended  to  establish  his 
family,  selecting  for  his  habitation  a  pleasant  situa- 
tion, and  in  the  division  of  lands  reserving  for  him- 
self the  fertile  peninsula  lying  between  the  mouths 
of  the  rivers  Bio-bio  and  Andalien,  and,  as  he  fully 
expected  in  a  short  time  to  be  able  to  subjugate  the 
Araucanians,  he  had  also  resolved  to  ask  of  the  court 
of  Spain,  in  reward  for  his  services,  the  two  adja- 
cent provinces  of  Arauco  and  Tucapel,  with  the  ti- 
tle of  Marquis. 

of  God  aided  us  throHghout.  Whnt  Gomara  asserts  might  be  the 
case,  and  I,  sinner  as  I  am,  was  not  worthy  to  be  permitted  to  see 
it.  What  I  did  see  was  Francisco  de  Moría  riding  in  company 
with  Cortes  and  the  rest  upon  a  chesnut  horse,  and  that  circum- 
stance, and  all  the  others  of  that  day,  appear  to  me,  at  this  mo- 
ment that  I  am  writing,  as  if  actually  passing  in  the  view  of  these 
sinful  êtes." 


117 

The  building  of  the  city  having  progressed  rapid- 
ly under  his  inspection  in  a  short  time,  he  employed 
the  remainder  of  the  year  in  regulating  its  internal 
police.  For  this  purpose  he  published  forty-two  ar- 
ticles or  statutes,  amonsr  which  are  some  that  disco- 
ver  much  prudence  and  humanity  respecting  the 
treatment  of  the  natives,  \\'hom  he  left,  however,  as 
elsewhere,  subject  to  the  private  controul  of  the  citi- 
zens. Believing  that  the  courage  of  the  Arauca- 
nians  was  now  completely  subdued,  as,  since  their 
second  unsuccessful  expedition,  they  had  made  no 
attempt  to  molest  him,  he  resolved  to  attack  them  in 
their  own  territory,  with  a  reinforcement  that  he  had 
just  received  from  Peru. 

With  this  intention,  in  the  year  1552,  he  passed 
the  Bio-bio,  and  proceeding  rapidly  through  the  pro- 
vinces of  Encol  and  Puren,  unobstructed  by  the 
tardy  operations  of  Lincoyan,  came  to  the  shores  of 
the  Cauten,  which  dividesthe  Araucanian territory  in- 
to two  nearly  equal  parts.  At  the  confluence  of  this  ri- 
ver and  that  of  Damas,  he  founded  another  city,  to 
which  he  gave  the  name  of  Imperial,  in  honour  of  the 
Emperor  Charles  the  Fifth  ;  or,  as  is  said  by  some,  in 
consequence  of  finding  there  eagles  with  two  heads  cut 
in  wood,  placed  upon  the  tops  of  the  houses.  This 
city  was  situated  in  a  beautiful  spot,  abounding  with 
every  convenience  of  life,  and  during  the  short  pe- 
riod of  its  existence  became  the  most  flourishing  of 
any  in  Chili.  Its  position  on  the  shore  of  a  large 
river  of  sufficient  depth  for  vessels  to  lie  close  to  the 
wallsj  rendered  it  a  highly  advantageous  situation 
for  commerce,  and  would  enable  it  to  obtain  imme- 


118 

<jiate  succour  in  case  of  sicç:c.  Modern  Q-eotrra- 
phers  speak  of  it  as  a  city  not  only  existing  at  the 
present  time,  but  as  very  strongly  fortified,  and  the 
scat  of  a  bishropric,  when  it  has  been  buried  in 
ruins  for  more  than  two  hundred  years. 

Valdivia,  intoxicated  ^vith  this  unexpected  pror»- 
perity,  displayed  all  that  liberality  which  frequently 
marks  the  conduct  of  those  who  find  themselves  in 
a  situation  to  give  away  what  costs  them  nothing. 
Exulting  with  his  ofííccrs  in  the  supposed  re- 
duction of  the  most  valiant  nation  of  Chili,  he 
assigned  to  them,  conditionally,  the  extensive 
districts  of  the  surrounding  country.  To  Francis 
Villagran,  his  Lieutenant-General,  he  gave  the  war- 
like province  of  Maçuegt/a,  called  by  the  Arauca- 
jiians  the  key  of  their  country,  with  thirty  thousand 
inhabitants.*  The  other  officers  obtained  from 
eight  to  twelve  thousand  natives,!  with  lands  in 
proportion,   according  to  the  degree  of  fuvofir  in 

*  After  the  death  of  \  iUagran,  the  prnv'mceof  j't  faillir  g  ua,  was 
partitioned  anew  among  the  conquerors,  the  principal  part  of  it 
being  assigned  to  Juan  de  Ocampo,  and  the  other  to  Andreas  Ma- 
tcncio  ;  but,  in  cfinsequence  of  its  recapture  by  ihe  Indians,  they 
reaped  very  little  if  any  advantage  from  these  comnianderies. 
Ocampo  afterwards  obtained  asia  reward  for  his  distinguished  ser- 
vice», theCorregidorate  of  the  city  of  Serena,  and  that  of  Mendoza 
and  St.  Juan,  in  the  province  of  Cujo  ;  in  this  last  province  was 
likewise  gra)ited  him  a  comniandery  of  Indians,  which  he  after- 
wards ceded  to  the  crown.  He  was  from  Salamanca,  of  a  very 
illustrious  family,  a  relation  to  the  first  bishop  of  Imperial,  and 
one  of  the  bravest  officers  that  went  from  Peru  to  Chili. 

t  Among  those  most  in  favour  with  Valdivia,  was  Pedro  Agui- 
lera, who  received  the  gift  of  a  comruandery,  containing  from  ten 
to  twelve  thousand  Indiaiis. 


119 

which  they  stood  with  the  general.  He  also  dis- 
patched Alderete,  with  sixty  men,  to  form  a  settle- 
ment on  the  shore  of  the  great  lake  Lauquen^  to 
which  he  gave  the  name  of  Villarica,  from  the  great 
quantity  of  gold  that  he  found  in  its  environs. 

In  the  mean  time,  having  received  fresh  rein- 
forcements, he  commenced  his  march  towards  the 
south,  still  kept  in  view  by  Lincoyan,  who  sought  a 
favourable  opportunity  of  attacking  him,  which  his 
timid  caution  constantly  prevented  him  from  finding. 
In  this  manner  the  Spanish  commander  traversed 
with  little  loss  the  whole  of  Araucania  from  north 
to  south,  but  on  his  arrival  at  the  river  Caliacallay 
which  separates  the  Araucanians  from  the  Curiches, 
he  found  the  latter  in  arms,  determined  to  oppose 
his  passage.  While  he  was  deliberating  what  mea- 
sures to  pursue,  a  woman  of  the  conntry,  called  Re- 
cloma,  either  from  interested  motives  or  a  real  desire 
to  prevent  the  effusion  of  blood,  came  to  him  and 
promised  to  persuade  her  countrymen  to  withdraw. 
In  consequence,  having  passed  the  river,  she  ad- 
dressed the  Cundiese  general  with  such  eloquence 
in  favour  of  the  strangers,  that,  without  foreseeing 
the  consequences,  he  permitted  them  to  pass  unmo- 
lested. The  Cunches  form  one  of  the  most  valiant 
nations  of  Chili.  They  inhabit  that  tract  of  country 
which  lies  upon  the  sea,  between  the  river  Calacaila, 
at  present  called  Valdivia,  and  the  Archipelago  of 
Chiloe.  They  are  the  allies  of  the  Araucanians,  and 
mortal  enemies  to  the  Spaniards,  and  are  divided 
into  several  tribes,  which,  like  those  in  tlie  other  parts 
of  Chili,  are  governed  by  their  respective  Ulmenes. 


-      120 

The  Spanish  commander,  having  passed  the  river 
with  his  troops,  founded  upon  the  southern  shore 
the  sixth  city,  which  he  called  Valdivia,  being  the 
first  of  the  American  conquerors  who  sought  in  this 
manner  to  perpetuate  his  family  name.  This  settle- 
ment,  of  which  at  present  only  the  fortress  remains, 
in  a  few  years  attained  a  considerable  degree  of 
prosperity,  not  only  from  the  superior  fineness  of  the 
gold  dug  in  its  mines,  which  has  obtained  it  the 
privilege  of  a  mint,  but  from  the  excellence  of  its 
harbour,  one  of  the  most  secure  and  pleasant  in  the 
South  Sea.  The  river  is  very  broad,  and  so  deep 
that  ships  of  the  line  may  anchor  within  a  few  feet  of 
the  shore  ;  it  also  forms  several  other  harbours  in 
the  vicinity. 

Valdivia,  satisfied  with  the  conquests  or  rather  in- 
cursions that  he  iiad  made,  turned  back,  and  in  re- 
passing the  provinces  of  Puren,  Tucapel  and  Arau- 
co,  built  in  each  of  them,  in  1553,  a  fortress,  to  se- 
cure the  possession  of  the  others,  as  he  well  knew 
that  from  these  pro\'inces  alone  he  had  to  apprehend 
any  attempt  that  might  prove  fatal  to  his  settlements. 
Ercilla  says  that,  in  this  expedition,  the  Spaniards 
liad  to  sustain  m^any  battles  with  the  natives,  which 
is  highly  probable,  as  the  continuance  of  Lincoyan 
in  the  command  can  upon  no  other  principle  be  ac- 
counted for.  But  these  actions,  ill  conducted  through 
the  cowardly  caution  of  the  general,  were  very  far 
from  checking  the  torrent  that  inundated  the  pro- 
\  inces. 

^\'ithout  reflecting  upon  the  imprudence  of  oc- 
cupying so    large    an    extent   of  country  with   so 


121 

small  a  force,  Valdivia  had  the  farther  rashness  on 
his  return  to  Santiago  to  dispatch  Francis  de  Aguirre, 
with  two  hundred  men,  to  conquer  the  provinces  of 
Cujo  andTucuman,  situated  to  the  east  of  the  Andes. 
It  is  true  that  about  this  time  he  received  by  sea  from 
Peru  a  considerable  body  of  recruits,  and  350  un- 
mounted horses,  but  this  reinforcement  was  little, 
compared  to  the  vast  number  of  people  necessary  to 
retain  in  subjection. 

Nevertheless,  indefatigable  in  the  execution  of  his 
extensive  plans,  which  bore  a  flattering  appearance 
of  success,  the  Spanish  general  returned  to  Arau ca- 
nia, and  in  the  province  of  Eiicol  founded  the  seventh 
and  last  city,  in  a  country  fertile  in  vines,  and  gave 
it  the  name  of  the  City  of  the  Frontiers.  This  name, 
from  events  which  could  not  possibly  have  been  in 
the  calculation  of  Valdivia,  has  become  strictly  ap- 
plicable to  its  present  state,  as  its  ruins  are  in  reality 
situated  upon  the  confines  of  tlie  Spanish  settlement 
in  that  part  of  Chili.  It  was  a  rich  and  commercial 
city,  and  its  wines  were  transported  to  Buenos  Ayres 
by  a  road  over  the  Cordilleras.  The  Encyclopedia 
contains  a  description  of  this  place  under  the  name  of 
Angol,  which  it  was  afterwards  called  by  the  Spa- 
niards, and  speaks  of  it  as  at  present  existing. 

After  having  made  suitable  provisions  for  this 
colony,  Valdivia  returned  to  his  favourite  city  of 
Conception,  where  he  instituted  the  three  principal 
military  offices,  that  of  quarter-master-general,  of 
aerjeant-major,  and  of  commissary,  a  regulation  that 

Vol.  II.  Q 


122 

luis  ever  since  prevailed  in  the  rojal  army  of  Chili.* 
He  then  sent  Alclcrete  to  Spain  with  a  particular  ac- 
count of  his  conquests,  and  a  large  sum  of  money, 
and  commissioned  him  to  use  his  utmost  exertions 
to  obtain  for  him  t'le  perpetual  government  of  the 
conquered  country,  with  the  title  of  Marquis  of 
Arauco.  At  the  same  time  he  dispatched  Francis 
ülloa  with  a  ship  to  examine  the  Straits  of  Magellan, 
by  which  he  hoped  to  open  a  direct  communica- 
tion with  Europe,  without  depending  upon  Peru. 


CHAPTER  II. 


Caiipoücan  appointed  Toqui  ;  He  attacks  the  Forts  of 
ylrauco  and  of  Tucapel  ;   The  Spanish  Army  en- 
tirely defeated^  and  Valdivia  slain. 

WHILST  Valdivia  was  engrossed  in  the  con- 
templation of  his  extensive  plans,  \i'ithout  suspect- 
ing the  cruel  reverse  that  fortune  was  preparing  for 
him,  an  old  Ulmen  of  the  province  of  Arauco,  called 
Colocólo,  animated  with  the  love  of  his  country,  quit- 
ted the  retirement  to  which  he  had  longbeforc  betaken 

*  Rut  two  of  these  offices  at  pvejent  eziit  ;  that  of  the  qimrter- 
inastcr-general,  who  is  also  calUiJ  the  Intendant,  and  resides  in 
the  city  of  Conception  ;  and.that  of  the  serjeant-inajor — the  latter 
has  beeiisuice  divided  into  two,  one  for  the  cavalry,  the  other  for 
tlic  infantry.    That  of  commissary  is  only  known  in  the  city  militia. 


123 

himsclC,  and  with  indefatigable  zeal  traversed  the 
Araucanian  provinces,  exciting  anew  the  courage  of 
his  countrymen,  rendered  torpid  by  their  disasters, 
and  soliciting  them  to  make  choice  of  a  general  ca- 
pable of  dislodging  the  Spaniards  from  the  posts  they 
had  occupied  in  consequence  of  the  improper  con- 
duct  of  Lincoyan.  This  chief  had  acquired  through- 
out  the  country  the  reputation  of  wisdom,  and  was 
well  versed  in  the  knowledge  of  government  ;  his 
great  age  and  experience  had  procured  him  the  es- 
teem of  the  whole  nation,  and  Jiey  had  always  re- 
course to  him  on  occasions  of  the  greatest  import- 
ance. 

The  Ulmenes,  who  were  already  of  the  same  opin- 
ion, immediately  assembled,  according  to  their  cus- 
tom, in  a  meadow,  and,  after  the  usual  feast,  began 
to  consult  upon  the  election.  Many  aspired  to  the 
glory  of  being  the  avengers  of  their  oppressed  coun- 
try, among  whom  Andalican,  Elicura,  Ongolmo, 
Renco  and  Tucapel  were  particularly  distil  guished. 
The  latter,  who  by  his  martial  prowess  had  given  his 
name  to  the  province  of  which  he  was  Apo-Ulmen, 
possessed  a  powerful  party,  but  the  more  j)rudent 
electors  were  opposed  to  his  appointment,  as  he  was 
of  an  impetuous  character,  and  they  dreaded  his  has- 
tening the  ruin  of  the  state.  Dissentions  ran  so  high, 
that  the  opposite  parties  were  on  the  point  of  having 
recourse  to  arms,  when  the  venerable  Colocólo  arose, 
and,  by  a  well-timed  and  energetic  address,  so  far 
pacified  their  irritated  minds,  that  all,  with  one  com- 
mon accord,  submitted  to  his  choice  the  appoint- 
ment of  a  commander.  The  wise  old  man,  on  whom 


124 

every  eye  was  fixed,  named,  without  hesitation, 
Caupolican,  the  Uhiien  of  Pilmayquen,  a  district  of 
Tiicapel,  who,  widi  that  modesty  that  marks  a  great 
character,  had  not  oflered  himself  as  one  of  the  can- 
didates. 

Ail  the  nation  applauded  the  choice  of  Colocólo, 
as  the  i^erson  appointed  was  a  serious,  patient,  sa- 
gacious and  valiant  man,  possessing,  in  short,  all 
the  qualities  of  a  great  general.  His  lofty  stature, 
uncommon  bodily  strength,  and  the  majesty  of  his 
countenance,  althou,;h  deficient  in  an  eye,  gave  an 
additional  lustre  to  the  inestimable  endowments  of 
his  mind.  Having  assumed  the  axe,  the  badge  of  his 
authority,  he  immediately  appointed  the  officers  who 
vrere  to  command  under  him,  among  whom  were 
all  his  competitors,  and  even  Lincoyan  himself;  but 
the  office  of  Vice  Toqui  he  reserved  for  Mariantu, 
in  whom  he  had  the  utmost  confidence.  The  violent 
Tucapel,  who  aspired  to  the  chief  command,  did  not 
disdain  to  serve  under  his  vassal,  manifesting  by 
this,  that  the  sole  motive  of  his  ambition  was  his 
wish  to  serve  his  country. 

The  Araucanians,  who  considered  themselves  in- 
vincible under  their  new  Toqui,  were  desirous  of 
going  immediately  from  the  place  of  meeting  to  at- 
tack the  Spaniards  ;  but  Caupolican,  who  was  no 
less  politic  than  valiant,  repressed  this  ardour  with 
prudent  argum^ents,  advising  them  to  provide  them- 
selves with  good  arms,  in  order  to  be  in  readiness  at 
the  first  orders.  He  then  reviewed  his  army,  and  re- 
solved to  commence  his  operations  by  a  stratagem, 
which  on  the  day  of  his  expedition  was  suggested  to 


125 

him  by  accident  :  Having  that  morning  taken  a  par» 
ty  of  eighty  Indians,  auxiliaries  of  the  Spaniards, 
who  were  conducting  forage  to  the  neighbouring 
post  of  Arauco,  he  substituted  in  their  place  an  equal 
number  of  his  bravest  soldiers,  under  the  command 
of  Cajuguenu  and  Alcatipay,  whom  he  directed  to 
keep  their  arms  concealed  among  the  bundles  of 
grass,  and  to  retain  possession  of  the  gate  of  the 
fortress  until  ha  could  come  to- their  assistance  with 
his  army. 

The  pretended  foragers  performed  their  parts  so 
well,  that  without  the  least  suspicion  they  were  ad- 
mitted into  the  fortress.  Immediately  they  seized 
their  arms,  attacked  the  guard,  and  began  to  kill  all 
that  came  in  their  way.  The  remainder  of  the  gar- 
rison under  the  command  of  Francis  Reynoso,  has- 
tened, well  armed,  to  the  scene  of  tumult,  opposed 
them  vigorously,  and  after  an  obstinate  contest, 
drove  them  frora  the  gate  at  the  very  moment  of  the 
arrival  of  the  Araucanian  army  ;  so  that  they  had 
but  just  time  to  raise  the  draw-bridge  and  hasten  to 
the  defence  of  the  walls.  Although  Caupolican  was 
disappointed  in  his  expectations,  he  hoped,  however, 
to  derive  some  advantage  from  the  confusion  of  the 
enemy,  and,  encouraging  his  soldiers,  assailed  the 
fortress  upon  every  side,  notwithstanding  the  con- 
tinual fire  of  the  besieged  from  two  cannon  and  six 
field  pieces.  But  perceiving  that  he  lost  a  great 
number  of  men,  he  resolved  to  turn  the  assault  into 
a  blockade,  expecting  to  reduce  the  place  by  famine. 

After  various  unsuccessful  sallies,  in  which  they 
lost  many  of  their  companions^  they  resolved  to  aban- 


126 

don  the  fort,  and  retire  to  that  of  Puren.  This  mea- 
sure had  indeed  become  necessary,  as  their  provi- 
sions began  to  fail  and  tliey  had  no  hope  of  being 
relieved.  In  pursuance  of  this  plan,  at  midnight 
they  mounted  their  horses,  and  suddenly  opening 
the  gate,  rushed  out  at  full  speed,  r.:id  escaped 
through  the  midst  of  their  enemies  ;  the  Arauca- 
nians,  who  supposed  it  to  be  one  of  their  customary 
sallies,  taking  no  measures  to  obstruct  their  flight. 

Caupolican  having  destroyed  this  fortress,  led  his 
troops  to  attack  that  of  Tucapel.  This  post  was 
garrisoned  b}-  forty  men,  under  the  command  of 
Martin  Erizar.  That  distinguished  officer,  defend- 
ed himself  valiantly  for  several  days,  but  much 
weakened  by  the  continual  assaults  of  the  enemies, 
snd  provisions  failing  him,  he  determined  to  with- 
draw to  the  saitie  fort  of  Pnren,  whither  the  garrison 
of  Arauco  had  retreated,  which  he  executed,  either 
in  consequence  of  a  capitulation  with  Caupolican,  or 
by  an  artifice  similar  to  that  wliich  had  succeeded  so 
fortunately  wdth  the  commander  of  Arauco. 

The  Araucanian  general  having  destroyed  these 
fortresses,  \vhich  caused  him  the  greatest  anxiety, 
encamped  with  his  army  on  the  ruins  of  that  of  Tu- 
capei,  to  wait  the  approach  of  the  Spaniards,  who,  as 
he  supposed,  would  not  be  long  in  coming  against 
him.  No  sooner  had  Valdivia,  who  was  then  in 
Conception,  learned  the  siege  of  Arauco,  when  he 
began  his  march  for  that  place,  with  all  the  forces 
that  he  could  collect  in  so  short  a  time,  in  opposi- 
tion to  the  advice  of  his  most  experienced  ofliiccrs, 


I 


127 

who  appear  to  have  had  a  presentiment  of  what  was 
to  happen. 

The  Spanish  historians  of  tliat  period,  as  they  felt 
a  greater  or  less  desire  of  diminishing  the  loss  of 
their  countrymen,  vary  greatly  in  their  accounts  of 
the  number  of  Spanish  and  Indian  auxiliaries,  wha 
accompanied  him  in  this  unfortunate  expedition. 
According  to  some,  he  had  only  two  hundred  of  the 
first,  and  five  thousand  of  the  latter.  Others  reduce 
even  this  to  only  half  the  number.  The  same  un- 
certainty is  to  be  found  in  their  accounts  of  the 
number  of  the  enemy,  some  making  it  amount  to 
nine,  and  others  to  more  than  ten  thousand.  If  both 
the  hostile  parties  possessed  historical  documents, 
we  might,  from  comparing  their  different  accounts, 
probably  obtain  a  tolerable  accurate  calculation,  but 
the  means  of  information  we  are  obliged  to  have  re- 
course to  are  all  derived  from  the  same  source. 
Nevertheless,  on  considering  the  important  conse- 
quences of  this  battle,  we  are  induced  to  believe 
that  the  loss  was  much  greater  than  is  pretended. 

On  approaching  within  a  short  distance  of  the 
«nemy's  encampment,  Valdivia  sent  Diego  del  Oro 
forward  to  reconnoitre  them  with  ten  horse.  This 
detachment,  however,  falling  in  with  an  advanced 
party  of  the  Araucanians,  were  all  slain  by  them, 
and  their  heads  cut  off  and  suspended  to  trees 
upon  the  road.  The  Spanish  soldiers,  on  arriving 
at  this  spot,  were  filled  with  horror  at  the  sight  of 
such  an  unexpected  spectacle,  and  notwithstanding 
their  accustomed  intrepidity,  were  solicitous  to  re- 
turn.    Valdivia  himself  began  to  regret  his  having 


128 

disregarded  the  advice  of  his  older  officers,  but 
piqued  by  the  haughty  boasts  of  the  young,  who, 
notwithstanding  the  mournful  evidence  before  them, 
declared  that  ten  of  them  were  sufficient  to  put  to 
flight  the  Araucanian  army,  he  continued  his  march, 
and  on  the  3d  of  December,  1553,  came  in  sight  of 
the  enemy's  camp.  The  ruins  of  Tucapel,  the  well 
regulated  array  of  the  hostile  army,  the  insulting 
scoifs  of  their  enemies,  who  in  a  loud  voice  called 
them  robbers  and  impostors,  filled  the  minds  of  the 
soldiers,  accustomed  to  command  and  to  be  treated 
with  respect,  with  mingled  sentiments  of  indigna- 
tion and  terror. 

The  two  armies  continued  a  long  time  observing 
each  other;  at  length  Mariantu,  who  commanded 
the  right  wing  of  the  Araucanians,  commenced  the 
combat  by  moving  against  the  left  of  the  Spaniards 
under  the  command  of  Bovadilla,  who  marched  to 
attack  him  with  a  detachment,  which  was  immedi- 
ately surrounded,  and  all  of  them  cut  in  pieces. 
The  Serjeant- major,  who  was  dispatched  by  Valdivia 
to  his  assistance  with  another  detachment,  experi- 
enced a  similar  fate.  Meanwhile  Tucapel,  who 
coniij.aided  the  left  wing  of  the  Araucanians,  began 
the  attack  upon  his  side  with  his  usual  impetu- 
osity. The  action  now  became  general  ;  the  Spa- 
niards-, furnished  with  superior  arms,  and  animated 
by  the  example  of  their  valiant  leader,  who  perform- 
ed the  duty  of  a  soldier  as  well  as  that  of  a  general, 
overthrew  and  destroyed  \vhole  ranks  of  their  ene- 
mies. But  the  Araucanians,  notwithstanding  the 
slaughter  made  among  them  by  the  cannon  and  mus- 


129 

ketry,  continued  constantly  to  supply  with  fresh 
troops  the  places  of  those  that  were  slain.  Three 
times  they  retired  in  good  order  beyond  the  reach  of 
the  musketry,  and  as  often,  resuming  new  vigour,  re- 
turned to  the  attack.  At  length,  after  the  loss  of  a 
great  number  of  their  men,  they  were  throv.'n  into 
disorder  and  began  to  give  way.  Caupolican,  Tuca- 
pel,andthe  old  intrepid  Colocólo  who  was  present  in 
the  action,  in  vain  attempted  to  prevent  their  flight 
and  reanimate  their  courage.  The  Spaniards  shouted 
victory,  and  furiously  pressed  upon  the  fugitives. 

At  this  momentous  crisis,  a  young  Araucanian  of 
but  sixteen  years  of  age,  called  Lautaro,  whom  Val- 
divia in  one  of  his  incursions  had  taken  prisoner, 
baptized  and  made  his  page,  quitted  the  victo- 
rious party,  began  loudly  to  reproach  his  country- 
men with  their  cowardice,  and  exhorted  them  to  con- 
tinue  the  contest,  as  the  Spaniards,  wounded  and 
spent  with  fatigue,  were  no  longer  able  to  resist 
them.  At  the  same  time  grasping  a  lance,  he  turned 
against  his  late  master,  crying  out,  "  Follow  me, 
my  countrymen,  victory  courts  us  with  open  arms." 
The  Araucanians  ashamed  at  being  surpassed  by  a 
boy,  turned  with  such  fury  upon  their  enemies,  that 
at  the  first  shock  they  put  them  to  rout,  cutting  in 
pieces  the  Spaniards  and  their  allies,  so  that  of  the 
whole  of  this  army,  only  two  Promaucians  had  the 
fortune  to  escape,  by  fleeing  to  a  neighbouring 
wood. 

The  Spanish  general  having  lost  all  hope,  had  re- 
tired in   the   beginning  of  the  massacre  with    his 

chaplain,  to  prepare  himself  for  death  ;  but  being 
Vol.  II.  R 


130 

pursued  and  taken  by  the  victors,  he  was  brought 
before  Caupolican,  of  whom,  in  a  humble  manner,  he 
implored  his  life,  soliciting  the  good  offices  of  Lau- 
taro, and  most  solemnly  promising  to  quit  Chili  with 
all  his  people. 

The  Araecanian  general,  naturally  compassionate, 
and  desirous  of  obliging  Lautaro,  vdio  joined  in  so- 
liciting him,  was  disposed  to  grant  the  request.  But 
^vhile  he  was  deliberating,  an  old  Ulmen  of  great 
authority  in  the  country,  enraged  to  hear  them  talk 
of  sparing  his  life,  dispatched  the  unfortunate  pri- 
soner with  a  blow  of  his  club  ;  saying,  that  they  must 
be  mad  to  trust  to  the  promises  of  an  ambitious  ene- 
my, who  as  soon  as  he  had  escaped  from  this  dan- 
ger, would  make  a  mock  of  them  and  laugh  at  his 
oaths.  Caupolican  was  highly  exasperated  at  this 
conduct,  and  would  have  punished  it  with  severity 
had  not  the  greater  part  of  his  officers  opposed  them- 
selves to  his  just  resentment. 

Such  was  the  tragic  fate  of  the  conqueror,  Pedro 
de  Valdivia,  a  man  who  unquestionably  possessed  a 
superior  mind,  and  great  political  and  military  talents, 
but  who,  seduced  by  the  romantic  spirit  of  his  age, 
knew  not  how  to  employ  them  to  the  best  advantage. 
His  undertakings  would  have  proved  fortunate,  had 
he  properly  estimated  his  own  strength,  and,  with- 
out being  deceived  by  the  example  of  the  Peruvians, 
despised  the  Chilians  less.  History  does  not  impute 
to  him  any  of  those  cruelties  with  which  his  con- 
temporaries, the  other  conquerors,  are  accused.  It 
is  true,  that  in  the  records  of  the  Franciscans,  two  of 
those  monks  are  mentioned  with  applause  for  having, 


131 

by  their  humane  remonstrances,  dissuaded  him  from 
the  commission  of  those  cruelties  that  were  at  first 
exercised  towards  the  natives  of  the  country  ;  but 
this  severity  does  not  appear  to  have  been  so  great 
as  to  have  obtained  the  notice  of  any  historian.  He 
has  been  by  some  accused  of  avarice,  and  they  pre- 
tend that,  in  punishment  of  this  vice,  the  Arauca- 
nians  put  him  to  death  by  pouring  melted  gold  into 
his  throat  ;  but  this  is  a  fiction  copied  from  a  similar 
story  of  antiquity. 

This  victory,  which  was  gained  in  the  evening, 
was  celebrated  the  day  following  with  all  kind  of 
games  and  diversions,  in  a  meadow  surrounded  with 
large  trees,  to  which  were  suspended  as  trophies  the 
heads  of  their  enemies.  An  immense  crowd  of  peo- 
ple from  the  neighbouring  country  flocked  thither 
to  witness  with  their  own  eyes  the  destruction  of  an 
army,  which  they  had  till  then  considered  as  invin- 
cible, and  to  join  in  the  diversions  of  the  festival. 
The  ofiicers,  in  token  of  victory,  wore  the  clothes 
of  their  slain  enemies,  andCaupolican  himself  put  on 
the  armour  and  surcoat  of  Valdivia,  which  was  em- 
broidered with  gold. 


132 


CHAPTER  III. 


The  Spaniards  abandon  Puren^  Angol  and  Villarica  ; 
CaiipoUcan  lays  siege  to  Imperial  and  Valdivia  ; 
Lautaro  defeats  the  Spanish  army  in  Mariguemi-, 
and  destroys  Conception, 

WHEN  the  rejoicings  were  over,  Caupolican, 
taking  the  young  Lautaro  by  the  hand,  presented 
him  to  the  national  assembly,  which  had  met  to  con- 
cert measures  for  the  further  prosecution  of  the  war, 
and  after  having  spoken  highly  in  his  praise,  attri- 
buting to  him  the  whole  success  of  the  preceding- 
day,  he  appointed  him  his  lieutenant-general  extraor- 
dinary, v/ith  the  privilege  of  commanding  in  chief 
another  army,  which  he  intended  to  raise  to  protect 
the  froiîtiers  from  the  invasion  of  the  Spaniards. 
This  appointment  was  approved  and  applauded  by 
all  present,  as  Lautaro,  besides  the  inappreciable  ser- 
vice he  had  rendered  his  country,  and  the  nobleness 
of  his  origin,  being  one  of  the  order  of  Ulmenes, 
was  endowed  with  singular  beauty  and  affability, 
and  possessed  talents  far  surpassing  his  years. 
Their  sentiments  upon  the  operations  of  the  next 
campaign  were  various.  Colocólo,  with  a  great  part 
of  the  Ulmenes,  being  of  opinion  that  in  the  first 
place  they  ought  to  free  their  country  from  the  fo- 
reign establishments  that  were  still  remaining.  But 
Tucapel,  followed  by  the  most  daring  of  the  officers. 


133 

maintained,  that  in  the  present  circumstances  they 
ought  to  attack  the  Spaniards  immediately  while  in 
a  state  of  consternation,  in  the  very  centre  of  their  co- 
lonics, in  the  city  of  Santiago  itself,  and  pursue  them 
if  it  were  possible  to  Spain.  Caupolican  applauded 
the  sentiments  of  Tucapel,  but  adhered  to  the  coun- 
sel of  the  elder  chiefs,  recommending  it  as  the  most 
secure  and  most  beneficial  for  the  country. 

Whilst  they  were  deliberating  upon  these  impor- 
tant objects,  Lincoyan,  who  was  traversing  the  coun- 
try with  a  detachment  of  troops,  fell  in  with  and  at- 
tacked a  party  of  fourteen  Spaniards  coming  from 
Imperial  to  the  assistance  of  Valdivia,  of  whose  fate 
they  were  uninformed.  These,  in  making  head 
against  the  enemy,  whom  they  soon  expected  to  put 
to  flight,  regretted  that  their  number  was  not  re- 
duced to  twelve,  in  order  to  be  able  to  style  them- 
selves, according  to  the  chivalrous  ideas  of  the  age,. 
"  the  twelve  of  fame. '^^  But  their  wishes  were  soon 
more  than  fulfilled,  for  at  the  first  encounter  but 
iseven  of  their  company  were  left,  who,  taking  ad- 
vantage of  the  swiftness  of  their  horses,  escaped, 
severely  wounded,  to  the  fortress  of  Puren. 

Having  brought  with  them  the  news  of  the  total 
rout  of  Valdivia's  army,  the  Spanish  inhabitants  of 
the  city  of  the  Frontiers  and  of  Puren,  thinking 
themselves  insecure  within  their  walls,  retired  to 
Imperial.  The  same  was  the  case  with  those  of 
Villaricai,  who  abandoned  their  houses,  and  took  re- 
fuge in  Valdivia.  Thus  had  the  Araucanians  only 
these  two  places  to  attack.  C^tupolican  having  de- 
termined to  besiege  them,  coramitted  to  Lautaro  the. 


134 

care  of  defending  the  northern  frontier.  The  young 
Vice  Toqui  fortified  himself  upon  the  lofty  moun- 
tain of  Marigucnu,  situated  on  the  road  Avhich  leads 
to  the  province  of  Arauco,  supposing,  as  it  happen- 
ed, that  the  Spaniards,  desirous  of  revenging  the 
death  of  their  general,  would  take  that  road  in  search 
of  Caupolican.  This  mountain,  which  on  several 
occasions  has  proved  fatal  to  the  Spaniards,  has  on 
its  summit  a  large  plain  interspersed  with  shady 
trees.  Its  sides  are  full  of  clefts  and  precipices,  on, 
the  part  towards  the  west  the  sea  beats  with  great 
violence,  and  the  east  is  secured  by  impenetrable 
thickets.  A  winding  bye-path  on  the  north  was  the 
only  road  that  led  to  the  summit  of  the  mountain. 

In  the  mean  time,  the  two  Promaucians  who  had 
alone  escaped  the  destruction  of  the  Spanish  army, 
having  reached  Conception,  filled  that  city  with  the 
utmost  consternation.  As  soon  as  the  general  ter- 
ror had  a  little  subsided,  the  magistrates  proceeded 
to  open  the  instructions  of  Valdivia,  which  he  had 
left  with  them  at  his  departure.  In  these  he  had 
named  as  his  successors  in  the  government,  in  the 
CA'ent  of  his  death,  Alderete,  Aguirre,  and  Francis 
Villagran.  But  the  first  being  absent  in  Europe, 
and  the  second  in  Cujo,  the  supreme  command  de- 
volved upon  Villagran.  This  general,  who  pos- 
sessed more  prudence  than  Valdivia,  after  making 
the  necessary  preparations,  began  his  march  for 
Arauco,  with  a  considerable  number  of  Spanish  and 
auxiliary  forces. 

He  crossed  the  Bio- bio  without  opposition,  but  at 
a  little  distance  from  thence,  in  a  narrow  pass,  he  en- 


135 

countered  a  body  of  Araucanians,  by  whom  he  was 
vigorously  opposed.  But  after  a  severe  action  of 
three  hours  tliey  were  defeated  and  withdrew,  con- 
stantly fighting  toward  the  summits  where  Lautaro, 
defended  by  a  strong  palisade,  awaited  their  ap- 
proach with  the  residue  of  his  army.  Three  com- 
panies of  Spanish  horse  were  ordered  to  force  the 
difficult  passage  of  the  mountain,  and  having,  after 
great  labour  and  fatigue,  arrived  within  a  short  dis- 
tance of  the  summit,  they  were  received  with  a 
shower  of  stones,  arrows  and  other  missive  weapons 
which  were  incessantly  poured  upon  their  heads. 
Villagran,  in  the  mean  time,  perceiving  that  several 
parties  were  detached  from  the  camp  of  the  enemy, 
with  an  intention  of  surrounding  him,  ordered  the 
musketry  to  advance,  and  the  fire  to  commence  from 
six  field  pieces,  which  he  had  placed  in  a  favourable 
situation  to  annoy  them. 

The  mountain  was  covered  with  smoke,  and  re- 
sounded with  the  thunder  of  the  cannon  and  the 
whistling  of  bullets  that  fell  upon  every  side.  But 
Lautaro,  in  the  midst  of  this  confusion,  firmly  main- 
tained his  post  ;  and  perceiving  that  his  principal 
loss  proceeded  from  the  cannon,  he  directed  Leuco- 
ton,  one  of  his  bravest  captains,  to  go  with  his  com- 
pany and  take  possession  of  them,  commanding  him 
at  the  same  time,  with  an  authority  derived  more 
from  his  high  reputation  than  his  office,  not  to  ven- 
ture to  see  him  again  until  he  had  executed  the  or- 
der. That  valiant  officer,  in  defiance  of  death, 
rushed  with  such  violence  upon  the  corps  of  artillery, 
that  after  a  furious  and  bloody  contest,  he  carried  ofi' 
all  the  cannon  in  triumph. 


136 

In  the  mean  time  Lautaro,  to  prevent  the  Spa- 
niards from  sending  succours  to  their  artillery,  at- 
tacked them  so  vigorously  with  all  his  troops,  that, 
driving  horse  and  foot  in  confusion  before  him, 
the  Spaniards  were  thrown  into  disorder,  and  unable 
to  recover  their  ranks,  precipitately  betook  them- 
selves to  flight.  Of  the  Europeans  and  their  Indian  al- 
lies, three  thousand  were  left  dead  upon  the  field. 
Villagran,  having  fallen,  was  on  the  point  of  being 
taken  prisoner  himself,  when  three  of  his  soldiers, 
by  almost  incredible  feats  of  valour,  rescued  him 
from  the  hands  of  his  enemies  and  remounted  him 
on  his  horse.  The  remaining  Spaniards  pursued  by 
the  victors,  spurred  on  their  exhausted  horses,  in 
order  to  pass  the  narrow  defile  where  the  battle  had 
commenced,  but  on  their  arrival  they  found  it  ob- 
structed by  the  order  of  Lautaro,  with  the  trunks  of 
fallen  trees.  Here  the  engagement  was  again  renewed 
with  such  violence,  that  not  one  of  the  miserable  re- 
mains of  this  broken  army  would  have  escaped,  had 
not  Villagran  by  a  desperate  eíTort  opened  the  pass  at 
the  most  imminent  hazard  of  his  life.  Nevertheless, 
the  Araucanians,  although  they  had  lost  about  seven 
hundred  men,  continued  the  pursuit  for  a  long  time  ; 
but  at  length  becoming  extremely  fatigued,  and  not 
able  to  keep  up  with  the  horses,  they  stopped  with 
a  determination  of  passing  the  Bio- bio  the  follow- 
ing day. 

The  few  Spaniards  who  escaped  the  slaughter  pro- 
duced, on  their  arrival  at  Conception,  indescribable 
sorrow  and  consternation.  There  was  not  a  family 
but  had  the  loss  of  some  relation  to  deplore.    The 


137 

alarm  was  greatly  heightened  by  the  news  of  the 
near  approach  of  Lautaro.  Villagran,  who  thought 
it  impossible  to  defend  the  city,  embarked  precipi- 
tately the  old  men,  the  women  and  the  children,  on 
board  of  two  ships  that  were  then  fortunately  in 
the  harbour,  with  orders  to  the  captains  to  conduct 
part  of  them  to  Imperial,  and  part  to  Valparaiso  ; 
while  with  the  rest  of  the  inhabitants  he  proceeded 
by  land  to  Santiago. 

Lautaro,  on  entering  the  deserted  city,  found  in  it 
a  very  great  booty,  as  its  commerce  and  mines  had 
rendered  it  very  opulent,  and  the  citizens  more  at- 
tentive to  save  their  lives  than  their  riches,  had  on 
their  departure  taken  scarcely  any  thing  with  them 
except  a  few  provisions.  After  having  burned  the 
houses  and  razed  the  citadel  to  its  foundation,  the 
victor  returned  with  his  army  to  celebrate  bis  tri- 
umph in  Arauco. 

iniu3'!8»©<g!ja.iiii 

CHAPTER  IV. 


Fillagran  raises  ths  siege  of  Imperial  and  of  Valdivia  ; 
The  small-pox  break  out  among  the  Araucanians  ; 
Conception  having  been  rebuilt,  Lautaro  returns 
and  destroys  it  ;  He  marches  against  Santiago,  and 
is  killed. 

MEANWHILE  the  commanders  of  the  cities  of 
Imperial  and  Valdivia,  closely  besieged  by  Caupoli- 
can,  demanded  succours  of  the  governor,  who,  not- 

VOL.Il.  s 


1<58 

withstanding"  his  hUc  losses,  failed  not  to  send  them 
with  all  possible  speed,  a  sufficient  number  of  troops 
fortheir  defence.  The  Araucanian  general,  believing 
it  difficult  under  such  circumstances  to  possess  him- 
self of  those  places,  raised  the  siege,  and  went  to 
join  Lautaro,  to  attempt  with  their  combined  for- 
ces some  other  enterprise  of  greater  importance. 

Villagran,  availing  himself  of  the  absence  of  the 
enemy,  ravaged  all  the  country  in  the  vicinity  of 
Imperial,  burned  the  houses  and  the  crops,  and 
transported  to  the  city  all  the  provisions  that  were 
not  destroyed.  Such  rigorous  measures  he  vindi- 
cated by  the  pretended  rights  of  war,  but  they 
usually  produce  no  other  effect  than  that  of  distress- 
ing the  weak  and  the  helpless.  In  other  respects  he 
was  humane,  and  averse  to  violence,  and  his  gene- 
rosity  was  acknowledged  even  by  his  enemies. 
During  his  government,  no  one  was  ill  treated  or 
put  to  death  except  in  the  field  of  battle. 

To  the  terrible  calamities  that  usually  follow  in 
the  train  of  war,  was  added  that  of  the  pestilence. 
Some  of  the  Spanish  soldiers,  who  were  cither  in- 
fected at  the  time,  or  had  but  recently  recovered 
from  the  small-pox,  in  the  above  incursions  made 
by  Villagran,  communicated  for  the  first  time  that 
fatal  disease  to  the  Araucanian"  provinces,  which 
made  th'jre  the  greater  ravages,  as  they  were  entirely 
unacquainted  with  it.  Of  the  several  districts 
of  the  country  there  was  one  whose  population 
amounted  to  twelve  thousand  persons,  of  which 
number  not  more  than  one  hundred  escaped  with 


life.*  This  pestilential  disorder,  which  from  its  long 
continuation  has  been  more  fatal  than  any  other  to  the 
human  race,  had  been  a  few  years  before  intro- 
duced into  the  northern  parts  of  Chili,  where  it  has 
since  from  time  to  time  reappeared  attended  with 
great  mortality  to  the  natives.  The  southern  provin- 
ces have  for  more  than  a  century  been  exempted 
from  its  ravages,  from  the  precautions  employed  by 
the  inhabitants,  to  prevent  all  communication  with 
the  infected  countries,  as  is  the  case  with  the  plague 
in  Europe. 

Whilst  Villagran  was  employing  all  his  attention, 
in  maintaining  as  far  as  possible  the  Spanish  power 
in  those  parts,  and  in  opposing  those  victorious  ene- 
mies who  were  endeavouring  to  annihilate  it,  he 
saw  himself  on  the  point  of  being  compelled  to  turn 
his  arms  against  his  own  countrymen.  Francis 
Aguirre,  who  in  Valdivia's  instructions,  had  been 

*  The  following  anecdote  will  show  the  horror  with  which  the 
small-pox  inspired  the  Indians  :  "  Some  time  since  the  viceroy  of 
Peru  sent  as  a  present  to  the  governor,  Juan  Xaraquemada,  from 
Limi  to  Chili,  several  jars  of  powder,  Honey,  wine,  olives  and 
different  kinds  of  seed  ;  one  of  these  being  accidentally  broken  in 
unlading,  the  Indians  who  were  in  the  service  of  the  Spaniards 
having  noticed  it,  imagined  that  it  was  the  purulent  matter  of  the 
small-pox,  which  the  governor  had  imported  in  order  to  disserai- 
nate  among  their  provinces,  and  exterminate  thera  by  this  means. 
They  immediately  gave  notice  to  their  countrymen,  who  stopped 
all  communisatiou  and  took  up  arms,  killing  forty  Spaniards  who 
were  among  them  in  full  security  of  peace.  The  governor  to  re- 
venge this  outrage,  entered  the  Araucanian  territory,  and  thus, 
owing  to  the  suspicion  of  these  barbarians,  was  a  war  excited, 
which  was  continued  until  Don  Alonzo  de  Rivera  returned  a  se- 
cond time  to  assume  the  government  of  the  kingdom"....7(?remm« 
Quiroga'*  MemrArs  of  the  War  of  C/tili,  chap.  74, 


140 


named  the  secoifd  as  governor,  on  learning  the  death 
of  that  general,  quitted  Cujo,  where  it  appears  he 
effected  nothing  of  importance,  and  with  sixty  men 
who  were  left  of  his  detachment,  returned  to  Chili, 
determined  to  possess  himself  of  the  government 
either  by  favour  or  force.  His  pretensions  must  in- 
fallibly have  produced  a  civil  war  between  Villagran 
and  himself,  with  great  detriment  to  the  success  of 
the  Spaniards,  had  they  not  both  consented  to  sub- 
mit their  claims  to  the  decision  of  the  Royal  Audi- 
ence of  Lima.  This  court,  whose  jurisdiction  at 
that  time  (1555)  extended  over  the  whole  of  South- 
America,  did  not  think  proper  to  commit  the  go- 
vernment to  either,  but  in  their  place  directed  that 
the  Corregidors  of  the  cities  should  have  the  com- 
mand, each  in  his  respective  district,  until  farther 
orders. 

The  inhabitants,  perceiving  the  inconveniences 
that  must  result  from  this  poliarchy,  especially  in 
time  of  war,  sent  a  remonstrance  to  the  Court  of 
Audience,  who  hearkened  to  their  reasons,  and  ap- 
ponted  Villagran  to  the  command,  as  more  expe- 
rienced in  the  business  of  the  kingdom  than  Aguirre, 
but  conferred  on  him  only  the  title  of  Corregidor,  or- 
dering him  at  the  same  time  to  rebuild  the  city  of 
Conception.  Although  he  was  convinced  of  the 
inutility  of  this  measure,  yet,  to  evince  his  obedi- 
ence, he  proceeded  thither  immediately  with  eighty- 
five  families,  whom  he  established  there,  and  defend- 
ed with  a  strong  fortification. 

The  natives  of  the  country,  indignant  to  be  ren- 
dered again  subject  to  a  foreign  yoke,   had  recourse 


141 

fo  their  protectors  the  Ariiucanians.  Caupolican, 
who  during  this  interval,  either  through  ignorance 
of  the  proceedings  of  the  Spaniards,  or  for  some 
other  reason  of  which  we  arc  not  informed,  had  not 
left  his  encampment,  st^nt  to  their  assistance  two 
thousand  men  under  the  command  of  Lautaro,  who 
was  well  experienced  in  such  expeditions.  The 
young  general,  exasperated  against  what  he  termed 
obstinacy,  passed  the  Bio-bio  without  delay,  and  at- 
tacked the  Spaniards,  who  imprudently  conñding  in 
their  valour  awaited  him  in  the  open  plain.  The  first 
encounter  decided  the  fate  of  the  battle.  The  citi- 
zens, struck  with  terror,  returned  to  the  fort  with 
such  precipitation  as  not  even  to  have  an  opportuni- 
ty of  closing  the  gate.  The  Araucanians  entered 
with  them,  and  killed  a  great  number.  The  remain- 
der were  dispersed,  part  of  them  embarking  in  a 
ship  which  was  in  the  port,  and  part  taking  refuge 
in  the  woods,  whence  by  bye -paths  they  returned  to 
Santiago.  Lautaro,  having  plundered  and  burned 
the  city  as  before,  returned  laden  with  spoils  to  his 
wonted  station. 

The  success  of  this  enterprise  excited  Caupolican 
to  undertake  once  more  the  sieges  of  Imperial  and 
Valdivia.  The  glorious  exploits  of  his  Lieutenant 
Stimulated  him  to  undertakings  of  greater  import- 
ance, and  such  as  were  worthy  of  the  supreme  com- 
mand. Lautaro  undertook  to  make  a  diversion  of 
the  Spanish  forces,  by  marching  against  Santiago, 
as  the  capture  of  this  city  appeared  to  him  an  en- 
terprise of  not  much  difficulty,  notwithstanding  its 
great   distance.      His  continued  victories  had   so 


142 

hightened  his  confidence,  that  nothilii^  appeared  to 
him  impossible  to  be  overcome. 

In  order  to  carry  into  effect  this  hazardous  enter- 
prise, he  required  but  five  hundred  men,  to  be  se- 
lected by  himself  ;  but  those  who  pressed  to  march 
under  his  standard  were  so  numerous  that  he  was 
compelled  to  receive  another  hundred.  The  two 
i^cnerals  then  separated  amidst  the  joyful  acclama- 
tions of  the  nation,  virho,  thoughtless  of  the  reverses 
of  fortune,  flattered  themselves  with  the  most  fortu- 
nate issue  to  their  expeditiouB. 

Lautaro,  at  the  head  of  his  six  hundred  com- 
panions, traversed  all  the  provinces  lying  between 
the  Bio- bio  and  the  Maule,  without  doing  the  least 
injury  to  the  natives,  who  called  him  their  deliverer. 
But  when  he  had  passed  this  last  river,  he  began 
cruelly  to  lay  waste  the  lauds  of  the  hated  Promau- 
cians,  whom,  had  he  then  treated  v/ith  kindness,  he 
would  have  detached  from  the  Spanish  interest,  and 
united  to  his  party.  But  the  intemperate  desire  of 
revenge  did  not  allov/  him  to  foresee  the  good  ef- 
fects that  this  opportune  reconciliation  might  pro- 
duce to  the  common  cause. 

After  having  taken  revenge,  in  some  measure,  up- 
on these  betrayers  of  the  country  as  he  called  them, 
he  fortified  himself  in  their  territory,  in  an  advan- 
tageous post,  situated  on  the  shore  of  the  Rio-claro 
w^ith  the  view,  most  probably,  of  gaining  more  cor- 
rect information  of  the  state  of  the  city  he  intended 
to  attack,  or  to  await  there  the  coming  of  his  ene- 
mies, and  to  cut  them  off  from  time  to  time.  This 
ill-timed  dchty  v/as  very  important  to  the  inhabitants 


143 

of  Santiago,  who,  when  they  were  first  informed  of 
his  approach,  could  not  believe  it  possible  that  he 
should  have  the  boldness  to  make  a  journey  of  three 
hundred  miles  in  order  to  attack  them.  But  unde- 
ceived by  the  refugees  of  Conception,  whom  fatal 
experience  had  too  well  taught  the  enterprising  cha^ 
racter  of  this  mortal  enemy  of  Spain,  they  thought 
proper  to  make  some  preparations  for  defence. 
With  this  view  they  first  dispatched  Juan  Godinez 
with  twenty -five  horsemen  to  the  country  of  the 
Promaucians,  in  order  to  learn  if  the  information 
they  had  received  was  true,  to  watch  the  motions 
and  discover  the  designs  of  the  enemy,  and  to  send 
back  immediate  intelligence.  He  was,  however, 
able  to  execute  but  a  part  of  his  commission  ;  for, 
being  unexpectedly  attacked  by  a  detachment  of  the 
Araucanians,  he  returned  precipitately,  with  his  men 
diminished  in  number  and  filled  with  consternation, 
to  bring  the  news.  The  victors  took  upon  this  oc- 
casion ten  horses  and  some  arms,  which  they  made 
use  of  in  the  succeeding  actions.  The  Corregidor, 
who  was  at  that  time  sick,  gave  orders  to  liis  eldest 
son,  Pedro,  to  march  with  such  troops  as  he  could 
raise  against  Lautaro,  and  proceeded  to  fortify  the 
city  in  the  best  manner  possible,  guarding  all  its  ap- 
proaches with  strong  works.  Pedro  in  the  mean  time 
attacked  the  Araucanians  in  their  entrenchments, 
who,  instructed  by  their  commander,  after  a  short 
resistance  pretended  to  take  flight,  but  no  sooner 
had  their  enemies  entered  the  abandoned  enclosure, 
than  they  turned  and  fell  upon  ihem  with  such  im- 
petuosity that  they  entirely  routed  them,  and  the 


144 

cavaln-  alone  were  able  to  save  tliemselves  from 
slau  irhter. 

Young  Villagran,  receiving  new  reinforcements, 
returned  three  times  to  the  attack  of  Lautaro *s  camp, 
but  being  constantly  repulsed  with  loss,  he  encamp- 
ed his  annv  in  a  low  meadow,  on  the  shore  of  the 
Mataquito.  The  Araucanian  general,  who  occu- 
pied a  neighbouring  mountain,  formed  the  plan  of 
inundating  at  night  the  Spanish  encampment,  by 
turning  upon  them  a  branch  of  the  river.  But  this 
bold  desiârn,  which  would  have  insured  the  destruc- 
tion  of  the  Spaniards,  failed  of  success,  as  Villagran, 
being  informed  of  it  by  a  spy,  retired  a  short  time 
before  it  was  carried  into  execution  with  his  anny  to 
Santiago. 

The  elder  Villagran  having  recovered  his  health, 
and  strongly  solicited  by  the  citizens,  who  every 
moment  expected  to  sec  the  Araucanians  at  their 
gates,  at  length,  in  1556,  began  his  march  with  196 
Spaniards  and  1000  auxiliaries  in  search  of  Lautaro. 
But  too  well  remembering  the  defeat  of  Maiiguenu, 
he  resolved  to  attack  him  by  surprise.  With  this 
intent  he  quitted  the  great  road,  secretly  direct- 
ed his  march  by  the  seashore,  and,  under  the  gui- 
dance of  a  spy,  by  a  private  path  came  at  day  break 
upon  the  Araucanian  encampment. 

Lautaro,  who  at  that  moment  had  retired  to  rest, 
after  having  been  upon  guard,  as  was  his  custom 
during  the  night,  leaped  from  his  bed  at  the  first 
alarm  of  the  sentinels,  and  ran  to  the  intrenchments 
to  observe  the  enemy.  At  the  same  time  a  dart, 
hurled  by  one  of  the  Indian  auxiliaries,   pierced  his 


145 

heart,  and  he  fell  lifeless  in  the  arms  of  his  com- 
panions-. It  would  seem  that  fortune,  hitherto  propi- 
tious, was  desirous  by  so  sudden  a  death  to  save  him 
from  the  mortification  of  finding  himself  for  the  first 
time  in  his  life  defeated.  It  is,  however,  not  impro- 
bable that  his  genius,  so  fertile  in  expedients,  would 
have  suggested  to  him  some  plan  to  have  bafied  the 
attempts  of  the  assailants,  if  this  fatal  accident  had 
not  occurred. 

Encouraged  by  this  unexi)ected  success.  Villa- 
gran  attacked  the  fortification  on  all  sides,  and  forced 
an  entrance,  notwithstanding  the  obstinate  resistance 
of  the  Araucanians,  who,  retiring  to  an  angle  of  the 
Avorks,  determined  rather  to  be  cut  to  pieces  than  to 
surrender  themselves  to  those  who  had  slain  their 
beloved  general.  In  vain  the  Spanish  commander 
repeatedly  offered  them  quarter.  None  of  them 
would  accept  it  excepting  a  few  of  the  neighbouring 
Indians,  who  happened  accidentally  to  be  in  their 
camp.  The  Araucanians  perished  to  the  last  man, 
and  fought  with  such  obstinacy  that  they  sought  for 
death  by  throwing  themselves  on  the  lances  of  their 
enemies. 

This  victory,  which  was  not  obtained  without 
great  loss  by  the  victors,  was  celebrated  for  three 
days  in  succession  in  Santiago,  and  in  the  other 
Spanish  setdements,  with  all  those  demonstrations 
of  joy  customary  upon  occasions  of  the  greatest  suc- 
cess. The  Spaniards  felicitated  themselves  on  being 
at  last  freed  from  an  enemy,  who  at  the  early  age  of 
nineteen  had  already  obtained  so  many  victories  over 
their  nation,  and  who  possessed  talents  capable  of 

Yov.  II.  T 


146 

entirely  destroying  their  establishments  in  Chifi,  and 
even  harassing  them  in  Peru,  as  he  had  resolved 
upon  when  he  had  restored  the  liberty  of  his  native 
country. 

As  soon  as  the  terror  inspired  by  this  young  hero 
had  ceased  with  his  life,  the  sentiments  of  hostili- 
ty, as  almost  always  happens,  were  succeeded  by 
those  of  generosity.  His  enemies  themselves  highly 
applauded  his  valour  and  military  talents,  and  com- 
pared him  to  the  most  celebrated  generals  that  have 
appeared  in  the  world.  They  even  called  him  the 
Chilian  Hannibal,  from  a  fancied  resemblance  be- 
tween his  character  and  that  of  the  famous  Cartha- 
ginian general,  although,  in  some  respects,  it  had  a 
much  greater  similarity  to  that  of  Scipio.  To  use 
the  words  of  the  Abbé  Olivarez — "  It  is  not  just  to 
depreciate  his  merit  whom,  had  he  been  ours,  we 
should  have  elevated  to  the  rank  of  a  hero.  If  wc 
celebrate  with  proprietj^  the  martial  prowess  of  the 
Spanish  Viriatus,  we  ought  not  to  obscure  that  of 
the  American  Lautaro,  when  both  contended  with 
the  same  valour  in  the  cause  of  their  country." 

The  Araucanians  for  a  long  time  lamented  the 
loss  of  their  valiant  countryman,  to  whom  they 
owed  all  the  success  of  their  arms,  and  on  whose 
conduct  and  valour  they  entirely  relied  for  the  re- 
covery of  their  liberties.  His  name  is  still  celebrated 
in  their  heroic  songs,  and  his  actions  proposed  as 
the  most  glorious  model  for  the  imitation  of  their 
youth.  But  above  all,  Caupolican  felt  this  fatal 
loss  :  As  he  was  a  sincere  lover  of  his  country,  far 
from  thinking  he  had  freed  himself  from  a  rival,  he 


147 

believed  he  had  lost  his  chief  co-operator  in  the 
glorious  work  of  restoring  his  country.  As  soon  as 
he  received  the  mournful  news,  he  quitted  the  siege 
of  Imperial,  which  was  reduced  to  the  last  extremity, 
and  returned  with  his  army  to  the  frontiers  to  pro- 
tect them  from  the  incursions  of  the  enemy,  who, 
he  had  learned  from  his  spies,  expected  a  large 
supply  of  men  and  warlike  stores  from  Peru,  with 
a  new  commander. 


>««^b 


CHAPTER  V. 


JDon  Garcia  de  Mendoza  arrives  at  Chili^  -with  a 
reinforcement  of  troops  ;  His  expedition  against 
Caupolican. 

PHILIP  the  Second,  who  had  succeeded  his  fa- 
ther Charles  the  Fifth  on  the  throne  of  Spain,  hav- 
ing learned  the  death  of  Valdivia,  gave  in  charge  to 
his  agent  Alderete,  the  government  and  the  cour^ 
quest  of  Chili,  furnishing  him  for  this  purpose  with 
six  hundred  regular  troops.  During  the  passage 
his  sister,  who  was  accustomed  to  read  in  bed,  set 
fire  by  accident  to  the  ship  in  the  vicinity  of  Porto- 
Bello.  Of  the  whole  number,  Alderete  and  three 
soldiers  were  all  that  escaped,  and  he  himself  soon 
after,  overcome  with  grief  and  disappointment,  died 


148 

in  the  little  ibland  of  Taboga  in  the  gulph  of 
Panama. 

The  Marquis  of  Cañete,  viceroy  of  Peru,  being 
informed  of  this  disaster,  appointed  to  the  vacant 
oflice  his  son  Don  Garcia  Hurtado  de  Mendoza. 
But  as  this  charge  had  now  become  very  dangerous, 
he  rcsoh'cd  that  at  liis  departure  he  should  be  ac- 
companied l^y  a  body  of  troops  capable  of  support- 
ing him,  and  acquiring  him,  if  possible,  the  glory  of 
terminating  with  success  the  obstinate  war  with  the 
Araucanians.  With  this  view  he  caused  a  great 
number  of  recruits  to  be  raised  throughout  his  ex- 
tensive viceroyalty.  The  civil  dissentions  being  at 
an  end,  Peru  at  that  time  abounded  with  milita- 
ry adventurers  who  were  desirous  of  employment. 
Of  course  he  was  in  a  short  time  joined  by  a 
large  number  of  soldiers,  part  of  whom  from  a 
warlike  spirit^  and  others  from  a  desire  to  obtain 
favour  w  ith  the  viceroy,  offered  to  fight  under  the 
banners  of  his  son. 

The  infantry,  well  equipped  and  appointed  with 
a  great  quantity  of  military  stores,  embarked  on 
board  of  ten  ships  under  the  command  of  Don  Gar- 
cia in  person,  and  the  cavalry  pursued  their  way  by 
land  under  the  orders  of  the  quarterrmaster-gcneral, 
Garcia  Ramon.  The  fleet  arrived  in  April,  1557,  in 
the  bay  of  Conception,  and  came  to  anchor  near  the 
island  of  Quinquina,  which,  being  the  most  secure 
situation,  had  been  chosen  for  the  head  quarters. 
The  few  inhabitants  who  were  found  there  bravely 
attempted  to  prevent  the  disembarkation  ;  but 
being  soon  dispersed  by  the  artillery,   they  retired 


149 

in  their  piragues  to  the  continent.  The  governor 
having  takeiS  some  of  the  hindmost,  sent  two  or 
three  to  the  Araucanians,  with  directions  to  inform 
them  of  his  arriva!,  and  tlic  desire  he  had  of  settling 
a  lasting  peace  with  them. 

The  Uhnenes,  being  convened  to  consider  of  tliis 
embassy,  were  generally  of  opinion  that  no  proposi- 
tions ought  to  be  listened  to  from  an  enemy  who  had 
returned  in  greater  force,  it  being  impossible  that 
they  should  be  other  than  treacherous  or  unfair.  But 
the  old  Colocólo,  who  was  the  soul  of  the  union,  ob- 
served that  no  injury  could  arise  from  their  hearing 
the  proposals  of  the  Spanish  general  ;  that  this  was 
a  favourable  opportunity  for  discovering  his  designs, 
and  of  obtaining  a  knowledge  of  his  forces  ;  that 
for  this  purpose  he  thought  it  advisable  to  send  a 
discerning  and  intelligent  man,  who,  under  the  pre- 
tence of  congratulating  the  new  governor  upon  his 
arrival,  and  to  thank  him  for  the  wish  that  he  ex- 
pressed of  coming  to  an  amicable  accommodation, 
would  gain  information  of  whatever  he  should  think 
of  importance  to  regulate  their  future  conduct. 

Caupolican,  with  the  greater  part  of  the  old  offi- 
cers, adopted  this  wise  counsel,  and  confided  this 
important  commission  to  Millalauco,  who  possessed 
all  the  qualities  requisite  for  such  an  envoy.  This 
ambassador  passed  the  narrow  strait  that  sepa- 
rates the  island  of  Quriquina  from  the  continent, 
and,  with  all  the  pride  peculiar  to  his  nation,  present- 
ed himself  to  the  Spaniards.  They  in  return,  to  give 
him  a  great  idea  of  their  power,  received  him  arrang- 
ed in  order  of  battle,  and  conducted  him  amidst  the 


150 

discharge  of  their  artillery  to  the  tent  of  tlie  p-eneral. 
Millalauco,  not  in  the  least  disconcerted  by  all  this 
military  parade,  complimented  the  governor  in  the 
name  of  Caupolican,  and  in  a  few  words  declared  to 
him  the  pleasure  that  he  and  all  his  people  would  feel 
in  the  establishment  of  an  honourable  and  advanta 
geous  peace  to  both  nations,  adding,  that  he  was  in- 
duced to  this,  not  from  any  dread  of  his  power,  but 
from  motives  of  humanity. 

Don  Garcia  was  by  no  means  satisfied  with  these 
vague  offers,  so  little  correspondent  to  his  views  ; 
he  replied,  however,  with  the  same  general  profes- 
sions respecting  peace,  and  after  having  regaled  the 
ambassador  in  a  magnificent  manner,  he  ordered  his 
oiHcers  to  conduct  him  over  the  whole  encampment, 
in  order  to  intimidate  him  by  the  appearance  of  the 
immense  military  preparations  that  he  had  brought 
with  him.  Nothing  could  better  suit  the  wishes  of 
ISIillalauco  ;  he  observed  every  thing  with  attention, 
though  with  apparent  indifference,  and  taking  leave 
of  the  Spaniards,  returned  home.  The  Araucanians, 
on  receiving  such  particular  information,  placed  sen- 
tinels along  the  coast  to  observe  the  movements  of 
their  enemies,  and  began  to  prepare  for  war,  which 
they  believed  to  be  near  and  inevitable. 

Don  Garcia,  however,  continued  almost  the  whole 
winter  in  the  island,  waiting  for  the  cavalrj'  from 
Peru,  and  the  reinforcements  he  had  required  from 
the  cities  of  his  jurisdiction.  At  length,  on  the 
night  of  the  6th  of  August,  he  privately  landed  one 
hundred  and  thirty  men  with  several  engineers  upon 
the  plain  of  Conception,  and  immediately  took  pos- 


151 

session  of  Mount  Pinto,  which  commands  the  har- 
bour, where  he  constructed  a  fort  furnished  with 
a  hirge  number  of  cannon  and  a  deep  ditch. 

The  Auraucanian  spies  failed  not  to  give  im- 
mediate information  to  Caupohcan  of  what  had  taken 
place.  That  general,  hastily  collecting  his  troops, 
passed  the  Bio-bio  on  the  9th  of  the  same  month,  and 
on  the  next  morning  at  day  break,  a  period  remarka- 
ble in  Europe  for  the  defeat  of  the  French  at  St.  Quin- 
tín, he  attacked  the  fortress  upon  three  sides,  having 
sent  forward  a  body  of  pioneers  to  fill  up  the  ditch 
with  fascines  and  trunks  of  trees.  The  attack  was 
continued  with  all  the  fury  and  obstinacy  so  natural 
to  that  people.  Numbers  mounted  on  the  parapet, 
and  some  even  leapt  within  the  walls,  destroying  all 
that  they  met  with.  But  the  cannon  and  the  mus- 
ketry directed  by  skilful  hands,  made  so  dreadful 
A  slaughter  that  the  ditch  was  filled  with  dead 
'bodies,  which  served  for  bridges  to  the  new  com- 
batants who  fearlessly  replaced  their  slain  com- 
panions. Tucapel,  hurried  on  by  his  unparalleled 
rashness,  threw  himself  into  the  fort,  and,  killing 
four  of  his  enemies  with  his  formidable  mace,  es- 
caped by  leaping  over  a  precipice  amidst  a  shower 
i)f  balls. 

Whilst  the  combat  raged  with  such  fury  around 
the  fortress,  the  Spaniards  who  were  in  the  island, 
perceiving  the  danger  of  the  besieged,  came  over 
to  their  aid,  and  formed  themselves  in  order  of 
battle.  Caupolican  observing  the  disembarkation, 
sent  immediately  a  part  of  his  troops  against  them. 
These,  after  a  severe  conflict  of  several  hours,  were 


152 

driven  bnck  to  the  mountain,  so  that  the  assailants 
were  placed  between  two  fires.  They  nevertheless 
lost  not  their  courage,  and  continued  fighting  till 
mid  day.  At  length,  extremely  fatigued  with  the 
length  of  the  combat,  they  withdrew  to  the  Bio-bio 
with  a  determination  to  raise  new  forces  and  return 
to  the  attack. 

Caupolican  having  in  a  short  time  reinforced  his 
army,  began  his  march  towards  Conception,  but 
learning  on  the  road  that  the  Spaniards  had  re- 
ceived a  numerous  reinforcement,  he  halted  on  the 
shore  of  the  Bio-bio,  deeply  chagrined  at  not  being 
able  to  effect  what  Lautaro  had  twice  performed 
with  the  universal  applause  of  the  nation.  In  fact, 
the  day  preceding  two  thousand  auxiliaries  had  ar- 
rived at  Conception,  with  the  cavalry,  from  Peru, 
consistino-  of  a  thousand  men  well  armed,  and  like- 
wise  another  squadron  of  Spanish  horse  from  Im- 
perial. 

After  his  army  had  sufficiently  recovered  from 
their  fatigues,  Don  Garcia  resolved  to  go  in  quest  of 
the  Araucanians  in  their  own  territory.  For  this 
purpose  he  crossed  the  Bio-bio  in  boats  well  equip- 
])ed,  at  six  miles  from  its  mouth,  where  that  river  is 
fifteen  hundred  paces  broad.  Caupolican  made  no 
attempt  to  obstruct  his  passage,  as  the  cannon,  placed 
upon  the  boats,  commanded  the  whole  of  the  oppo- 
site shore  ;  but  he  had  occupied  a  position  not  far 
distant,  flanked  with  thick  woods,  whichy  if  defeat- 
ed, would  facilitate  his  retreat. 

The  battle  began  with  a  skirmish  that  was  favour- 
able to  the  Araucanians.    The  Spanish  advanced 


153 

parties  falling  in  with  those  of  Ciiupolican  were  re- 
pulsed with  loss,  notwithstanding  the  assistance  sent 
them  by  Ramon  the  quarter- master- general.  Alon- 
zo  Reynoso,  who  was  likewise  dispatched  to  their 
aid  with  fifty  horse,  experienced  a  similar  fate, 
leaving  several  of  his  men  dead  xipon  the  field. 
The  two  armies  at  length  met.  The  Araucanians, 
encouraged  by  the  advantage  they  had  gained,  en- 
deavoured to  come  to  close  combat  with  their  ene- 
mies, notwithstanding  the  heavy  fire  they  had  to 
sustain  from  eight  pieces  of  artillery  in  front  of  the 
Spanish  army.  But  when  they  came  within  reach 
of  the  musketry,  they  were  not  able  to  advance 
further,  or  resist  the  fire  vv'hich  was  well  kept  up 
by  the  veteran  troops  of  Peru.  After  many  inef- 
fectual attempts,  they  began  to  give  way  and  fall 
into  confusion  from  the  vacancies  caused  in  their 
ranks,  by  the  loss  of  their  most  determined  soldiers. 
The  cavalry  at  length  completely  routed  them, 
making  a  great  slaughter  of  them  in  their  flight  to 
the  woods. 

Don  Garcia,  either  from  disposition  or  policy, 
was  strongly  inclined  to  pursue  rigorous  measures. 
He  was  the  first  in  this  war  who  introduced,  con- 
trary to  the  opinion  of  a  majority  of  his  officers,  the 
barbarous  practice  of  mutilating  or  of  putting  to 
death  the  prisoners  ;  a  system  that  may  serve  to  awe 
and  restrain  a  base  people,  or  one  accustomed  to 
servitude,  but  a  generous  nation  detests  cruelty,  and 
it  only  serves  to  exasperate  and  render  them  irre- 
eoncilable.  Among  the  prisoners  taken  upon  this 
occasion  was  one  more  daring  than  any  of  the  others, 


151 

called  Galverino,  whose  hands  Don*Garcia  ordered 
to  be  cut  OÍF.  He  returned  to  his  countrymen,  and 
showing-  his  bloody  mutilated  stumps,  inflamed 
them  with  sucli  fury  against  the  Spaniards,  that 
they  all  swore  never  to  make  peace  with  them,  and 
to  put  to  death  any  one  who  should  have  the  base- 
ness to  propose  such  a  measure.  Even  the  very 
women,  excited  by  a  desire  of  revenge,  offered  to 
take  arms  and  to  fight  by  the  side  of  their  husbands, 
as  they  did  in  the  subseciuent  battles.  From  hence 
originated  the  ñible  of  the  Chilian  Amazons,  placed 
by  some  authors  in  the  southern  districts  of  that 
country. 

The  victorious  army  penetrated  into  the  province 
of  Arauco,  constantly  harassed  by  the  flying  camps 
of  the  Araucanians,  who  left  them  not  a  moment's 
rest.  Don  Garcia,  when  he  arrived  at  Melipuru, 
put  to  the  torture  several  of  the  natives  whom  his 
soldiers  had  taken,  in  order  to  obtain  information  of 
Caupolican,  but  notwithstanding  the  severity  of 
their  torments,  none  of  them  w^ouid  ever  discover 
the  place  of  his  retreat.  The  Araucanian  general, 
on  being  informed  of  this  barbarous  conduct,  sent 
word  to  him  by  a  messenger,  that  he  was  but  a  short 
distance,  and  would  come  to  meet  him  the  follow- 
ing day.  Tlie  Spaniards,  who  could  not  conceive 
the  motive  of  the  message,  were  alarmed,  and  pass- 
ed the  whole  night  under  arms. 

At  day  break  Caupolican  appeared  with  his  army 
arranged  in  three  lines.  The  Spanish  cavalry  charg- 
ed with  fury  the  first  line,  commanded  by  Caupo- 
lican in  person,  who  gave  orders  to  his  pikemen  to 


155 

sustain  with  levelled  spears  the  attack  of  the  horse, 
and  the  mace  bearers  with  their  heavy  clubs  to  strike 
at  their  heads.  The  cavalry  by  this  unexpected 
reception  being  thrown  into  confusion,  the  Aurau- 
canian  general,  followed  by  his  men,  broke  into  the 
centre  of  the  Spanish  infantry  with  great  slaughter, 
killing  five  enemies  with  his  own  hand.  Tucapel, 
advancing  in  another  quarter  witJi  his  division,  at 
the  first  attack  broke  his  lance  in  the  body  of  a 
Spaniard,  and  instantly  drawing  his  sword,  slew 
seven  others.  In  these  various  encounters  he  re- 
ceived several  severe  wounds,  but  perceiving  the 
valiant  Rencu  surrounded  by  a  crowd  of  enemies, 
he  fell  with  such  fury  upon  them,  that  after  killing 
a  considerable  number,  he  rescued  his  former  rival, 
and  conducted  him  safely  out  of  danger. 

Victory,  for  a  long  time  ündecide'd,  was  at  length 
on  the  point  of  declaring  for  the  Araucanians,  when 
Don  Garcia  perceiving  his  men  ready  to  give  way, 
gave  ^^rders  to  a  body  of  reserve,  to  attack  the  di- 
vision of  the  enemy,  commanded  by  Lincoyan  and 
Ongolmo.  This  order,  which  was  promptly  execut- 
ed, preserved  the  Spanish  army  from  total  ruin. 
This  line  of  the  Araucanians  being  broken,  fell  back 
upon  their  victorious  countrymen,  who  were  thrown 
into  such  confusion,  that  Caupolican  after  several 
ineíFectual  efforts,  dispairing  of  being  able  to  restore 
order,  sounded  a  retreat,  and  yielded  to  his  ene- 
mies a  victory  that  he  deemed  secure.  Tiie  Araur 
canian  army  would  liave  been  cut  in  pieces,  had  not 
Rencu,  by  posting  himself  in  a  neighbouring  wood 
with  a  squadron  of  valiant  youth,  called  thither  the 


156 

attention  of  the  victors,  who  pursued  the  fugitives 
with  that  deadly  fury,  that  characterized  the  soldiers 
of  that  age.  That  chief,  after  having  sustained  the 
violence  of  their  attack,  for  a  time  sufficient  in  his 
opinion  to  ensure  the  safety  of  his  countrymen,  retired 
with  his  companions  by  a  secret  path,  scoffing  at 
his  enemies. 


-a^^^t'i 


CHAPTER  VL 


Don  Garcia  orders  twelve  Ulmenes  to  he  hanged  ; 
He  founds  the  city  of  Cañete  ;  Caupolican^  at- 
tempting to  surprise  it,  is  defeated,  a?id  his  army 
entirely  dispersed.  . 

THE  Spanish  general,  before  he  quitted  Meliru- 
pu,  caused  tvvdve  Ulmenes  whom  he  found  among 
the  prisoners,  to  be  hung  to  the  trees  that  surround- 
ed the  field  of  battle.  Galvarino  was  also  condem- 
ned to  the  same  punishn'ient.  This  unfortunate 
youth,  notwithstanding  the  lossof  his  hands,  had  ac- 
companied the  Araucanian  army,  and  had  never 
''ceased  during  the  battle  to  incite  his  couutryrnen  to 
fight  vigorously,  showing  his  mutilated  arms,  while 
he  attempted  with  his  teeth  and  feet  to  do  all  the 
injury  he  could  to  his  enemies.  One  of  the  Ulmenes, 
gyercomc  with  terror,  petitioned  for  his  life,  but 


157 

Galvarino  reproached  him  so  severely  for  his  cou-- 
ardicc,  and  inspired  him  with  such  contempt  for 
death,  that  he  refused  the  pardon  which  was  granted 
him,  and  demanded  to  die  t]"ic  first,  as  an  atonement 
for  his  weakness  and  the  scandal  he  had  broui^ht 
upon  the  Araucanian  name. 

After  this  fruitless  execution,  Don  Garcia  pro- 
ceeded to  the  province  of  Tucapcl,  and  coming  to 
the  place  where  Valdivia  liad  been  defeated,  lie 
built  there,  in  contempt  of  his  conquerors,  a  city 
which  he  called  Cañete,  from  the  titular  appellation 
of  his  family.  As  this  settlement  was  in  the  centre  of 
the  enemy's  country,  he  thought  proper  to  strength- 
en it  with  a  good  palisade,  a  ditch,  a  rampart,  and  a 
great  number  of  cannon,  and  gave  the  command  to 
Alonzo  Reynoso,  with  a  select  garrison.  After 
which,  imagining  that  the  Araucanians,  who  had  been 
defeated  in  three  successive  battles,  were  no  longer 
in  a  condition  to  oppose  his  conquering  arms,  lie 
departed  for  Imperial,  .where  he  was  received  in  tri- 
umph. 

Soon  after  his  arrival  at  Imperial,  he  sent  from 
thence  to  the  inhabitants  of  his  new  citv  a  laro'c  con- 
voy  of  provisions,  under  the  escort  of  a  large  body 
of  troops,  who  were  attacked  and  routed  in  the  nar- 
row pass  of  Cayucupil  by  a  body  of  Araucanians. 
But  these  ha\ing  ill-timedly  began  to  seize  the  bag- 
gage, gave  the  Spaniards  an  opportunity  of  escaping 
with  little  loss,  and  reaching  tlie  place  of  their  desti- 
nation. The  citizens  received  them  with  the  greatest 
demonstrations  of  joy,  their*  assistance  being  much 
wanted  in  case  Caupolican,  as  was  reported,  should 


158 

attack  and  endeavour  to  force  them  from  that  post. 
Nor  were  these  merely  idle  rumours.  That  inde- 
fatigable general,  whom  misfortune  seemed  to  in- 
spire with  greater  courage,  a  few  days  afterwards 
made  a  furious  assault  upon  the  place,  in  which  his 
valiant  troops,  with  arms  so  far  inferior  to  their  ene- 
mies, supported  a  continual  fire  for  five  hours, 
now  scaling  the  rampart,  now  pulling  up  or  bur- 
ning the  palisades.  But  perceiving  that  valour  alone 
could  not  aA'ail  him  in  this  difficult  enterprise,  he 
resolved  to  suspend  the  attack,  and  seek  some 
more  certain  means  of  attaining  his  end. 

With  this  view  he  persuaded  one  of  his  officers, 
named  Pran,  who  had  the  reputation  of  being  very 
cunning  and  artful,  to  inVoduce  himself  into  the 
garrison  as  a  deserter,  in  order  to  find  means  to  de- 
liver it  up.  Pran  accordingly  obtained  admission 
Tjnder  that  character,  and  conducted  himself  with  the 
profoundest  dissimulation.  He  soon  farmed  a  friend- 
ship with  one  of  the  Chilians  who  served  under  the 
Spaniards,  called  Andrew,  and  who  appeared  to  him 
a  proper  instrument  of  his  designs.  One  day,  either 
artfully  to  sound  him,  or  to  flatter  him,  Andrew  pre- 
tended to  sympathize  with  his  friend  on  the  misfor- 
tunes of  his  country.  Pran,  who  had  as  yet  given 
no  intimation  of  his  design,  seized  with  much  readi- 
ness this  occasion,  and  discovered  to  him  the  motive 
of  his  pretended  desertion,  earnestly  entreating  him 
to  aid  in  the  execution  of  his  scheme  ;  this  was  to 
introduce  some  Araucanian  soldiers  into  the  place,  at 
the  time  when  the  Spaniards,  wearied  with  their  nightly 


159 

watch,  had  retired  to  take  their  siesta.*  The  crafty 
Chilran  highly  praised  his  project,  and  oiFered  him- 
self to  keep  a  gate  open  on  the  day  assigned  for  the 
enterprise.  The  Araucanian,  elated  with  joy,  has- 
tened to  give  information  to  Canpolican,  who  was 
at  a  short  distance,  and  Andrew  proceeded  imme- 
diately to  disclose  the  plot  to  the  commander  of  tlie 
fort,  who  directed  him  to  keep  up  the  deception  by 
appearing  to  carry  it  on,  in  order  to  take  the  enemy 
in  their  ov/n  snare. 

Caupolican,  occupied  with  an  ardent  desire  of 
accomplishing  this  enterprise,  lost  sight  on  this 
occasion  of  his  wonted  prudence,  and  too  easily 
reposed  faith  in  this  ill -concerted  scheme.  In  order 
the  better  to  devise  his  measures,  he  expressed  a  wish 
to  converse  with  the  Chilian  ;  Pran  immediately  gave 
notice  to  his  supposed  friend,  who  appeared  before 
Caupolican  with  all  that  air  of  respect  and  flattering 
show  of  attachment  which  villains  of  this  stamp 
know  so  well  to  assume.  He  broke  out  into  invec- 
tives against  the  Spaniards,  whom  he  said  he  had 
always  detested,  and^rcnewed  his  promise,  declaring 
that  nothing  could  be  easier  than  the  execution  of 
the  plot.  The  Araucanian  general  applauded  his 
patriotism,  loaded  him  with  caresses,  and  promised 
to  give  him,  if  the  enterprise  should  succeed,  an 
Ulmenate  with  the  office  of  first  captain  of  his  army. 
He  then  showed  him  his  troops,  appointed  the  next 
day  for  the  execution  of  their  scheme,  and  dismissed 
him  with  the  strongest  demonstrations  of  esteem 
and  favour.     The  Spaniards,  informed  of  all,  em- 

*  Affeernwon  sleep. 


160 

ployed  tl^at  night  in  making  every  preparation  to 
obtain  the  greatest  •  possible  advantage  fron\  the 
treachery  of  their  ally. 

When  the  princii)al  officers  of  the  Araucanians 
were  informed  of  the  intention  of  their  general,  they 
openly  disapproved  of  it,  as  dishonourable  and  dis- 
graceful to  the  national  spirit,  and  refused  to  ac- 
company him  in  the  expedition.  Adhering,  never- 
theless, with  obstinacy  to  his  design,  he  began  his 
march  at  day  break,  with  three  thousand  men  for 
Cañete,  in  the  vicinity  of  which  he  lay  concealed 
until  the  time  appointed,  when  Pran  came  to  in- 
form him  from  Andrew  that  all  was  ready.  The 
Araucanians  then  proceeded  in  silence  to  the  cit}', 
and  fmding  the  passage  free,  began  to  enter  it.  But 
the  Spaniards  having  allowed  entrance  to  a  certain 
number,  suddenly  closed  the  gate,  and  at  the  same 
moment  commenced  a  fire  with  grape  shot  from  all 
their  cannon  upon  those  without. 

Dreadful  was  the  slaughter  made  among  them, 
and  the  more  so  as  it  was  wholly  unexpected.  The 
horse  then  made  a  sally  from  another  gate,  and  com- 
pleted the  destruction  of  those  who  had  escaped  the 
fire  of  the  cannon.  Caupolican  had  the  fortune,  or 
rather  misfortune,  to  escape  the  general  slaughter  of 
his  men.  He  retired  with  a  few  attendants  to  the 
mountains,  whence  he  hoped  soon  to  descend  with  a 
new  army  capable  of  maintaining  the  field.  Wliilc 
tlie  cavalry  were  gi^'ing  a  loose  to  their  fury  on  those 
\vithout,  the  infantry  were  employed  in  butchering 
those  within  the  walls,  who,  havmg  lost  ail  hope  of 
escape,  rather  chose  to  be  cut  in  pieces  than  to  sur- 


161 

render  themselves.  The  too  credulous  Pran,  perceiv- 
ing his  error,  rushed  amongst  the  foremost  against 
his  enemies,  and  by  an  honourable  death  escaped  the 
well  merited  reproaches  of  his  imprudence.  Among 
the  few  who  were  taken  prisoners  were  three  Ul- 
menes, who  were  fastened  to  the  mouths  of  cannon 
and  blown  into  the  air. 


CHAPTER  VII. 


Expedition  of  Don  Garcia  to  the  Archipelago  of 
Chibé  ;  Foundation  of  Osorno  ;  Caupolican  taken, 
and  impaled. 

DON  GARCIA,  considering  the  Araucaniatt 
war  as  terminated  after  this  destructive  battle,  or- 
dered the  city  of  Conception  to  be  rebuilt  ;  and,  de- 
sirous of  adding  to  the  laurels  of  a  soldier  those  of 
a  conqueror,  so  highly  valued  in  that  age,  in  1558 
marched  with  a  numerous  body  of  troops  against  the 
Cunches,  who  had  not  yet  been  opposed  to  the  Span- 
ish arms.  This  nation,  when  tliey  first  heard  of  the 
arrival  of  the  strangers,  met  to  deliberate  whether 
they  should  submit,  or  resist  their  victorious  forces. 
An  Araucanian  exile,  called  Tmiconobal^  who  was 
present  at  the  assembly,  being  desired  to  give  his 
opinion  upon  the  measures  proposed,  replied  in  the 
following  terms  : 
Vol.  U.  X 


162 

"  Be  cautiaus  how  you  adopt  either  of  these  mea" 
suies  ;  as  vassals  you  will  be  despised  and  compel- 
led to  labour,  as  enemies  you  will  be  exterminated. 
If  you  wish  to  free  yourselves  of  tliese  dangerous 
visitors,  make  them  believe  you  are  miserably  poor 
Hide  your  property,  particularly  your  gold  ;  they 
will  not  remain  where  they  have  no  expectation  of 
finding  that  sole  object  of  their  wishes.  Send  them 
such  a  present  as  will  impress  them  with  an  idea  of 
your  poverty,  and  in  the  mean  time  retire  to  the 
woods." 

The  Cunches  approved  the  wise  counsel  of  the 
Araucanian,  and  commissioned  him,  with  nine  na- 
tives of  the  country,  to  carry  the  present  which  he 
had  recommended  to  the  Spanish  general.  Accord- 
ingly, cloathing  himself  and  companions  in  wretch- 
ed rags,  he  appeared  with  every  mark  of  fear  before 
that  officer,  and  after  complimenting  him  in  rude 
terms,  presented  him  a  basket  containing  some  roast- 
ed lizards  and  wild  fruits.  The  Spaniards,  who  could 
not  refrain  from  laughter  at  the  appearance  of  the 
a4iibassadors  and  their  presents,  began  to  dissuade 
the  governor  from  pursuing  an  expedition  which, 
from  all  appearances,  would  prove  unproductive. 
But  although  he  was  persuaded  that  these  people 
were  poor  and  wretched,  yet,  lest  he  should  discover 
too  great  ñicility  in  relinquishing  his  plan,  he  ex- 
horted his  troops  to  prosecute  the  expedition  that 
had  been  undertaken,  assuring  them  that,  further  on, 
according  to  the  information  he  had  received,  they 
would  find  a  country  that  abounded  in  all  the  me- 
tals.    This  was  a  eircumstance  by  no  means  im- 


163 

probable,  it  being  very  usual  in  America  after  pass- 
ing frightful  deserts  to  meet  with  the  richest  counr 
tries.     He  then  inquired  of  the  Cunches  the  best 
road  to  the  south.    Tunconobal  directed  him  to» 
wards  the   west,  which  was  the  most  rough  and . 
mountainous,  and  on  being  applied  to  for  a  guide, 
gave  him  one  of  his  companions,  whom  he  charged 
to  conduct  the  army  by  the  most  desolate  and  diffi- 
cult roads  of  the  coast.     The  guide  pursued  so 
strictly  the  instruction  of  the  Araucanian,  that  the 
Spaniards,  who  in  their  pursuit  of  conquest  were 
accustomed  to  surmount  with  ease  the  severest  fa- 
tigues, acknowledged  that  they  had  never  before,  in 
any  of  their  marches,  encountered  difficulties  com- 
parable with  these.     Their  impatience  was  greatly 
augmented  on  the  fourth  day,  when  their  pretended 
guide  quitted. them,  and  they  found  themselves  in  a 
desert  surrounded  by  precipices,  from  whence  they 
perceived  no  way  to  extricate  themselves.  All  their 
constancy  and  perseverance  would  have  been  in- 
sufficient to  support  them,  if  Don  Garcia  had  not 
incessantly   encouraged   them   with   the   flattering 
hope  of  soon  reaching  the  happy  country  which  he 
had  promised  them. 

Having  at  length  overcome  all  obstacles,  they 
came  to  the  top  of  a  high  mountain,  from  whence 
they  discovered  the  great  Archipelago  of  Ancud, 
more  commonly  called  Chiloe,  whose  channels  were 
covered  with  a  great  number  of  boats  navigated 
with  sails  and  ears.  This  unexpected  prospect  filled 
them  with  joy.  As  they  had  for  many  days  suflfered 
fr©m  hunger,  they  Jiastened  to  the  shore,  and  were 


164 

lîighiy  delighted  on  seeing  a  boat  make  towards 
them,  on  board  of  which  were  fifteen  persons  hand- 
somely clothed.  Without  the  least  apprehension  they 
immediately  leaped  on  shore,  and  saluting  the  Spa- 
niards with  much  cordiality,  inquired  who  they 
were,  whither  they  w^re  going,  and  if  they  were  in 
W'ant  of  any  thing.  The  Spaniards  asked  them  for 
provisions  :  the  chief  of  this  friendly  people  imme- 
diately ordered  all  the  provisions  that  were  in  the 
boat  to  be  brought,  and  in  the  most  hospitable  man- 
ner distributed  them  among  them,  refusing  to  ac- 
cept any  thing  in  return,  and  promised  to  send  them 
a  large  supply  from  the  circumjacent  islands. 

Indeed,  scarcely  had  these  famished  adventurers 
encamped  when  there  arrived  from  all  quarters  pi- 
ragues  loaded  with  maize,  fruit  and  fish,  which  were 
in  like  manner  distributed  to  them  gratuitously.  The 
Spaniards,  constantly  regaled  by  these  islanders, 
coasted  the  Archipelago  to  the  bay  of  Rcloncavi, 
and  some  went  over  to  the  neighbouring  islands, 
where  they  Ibund  land  well  cultivated,  and  women 
employed  in  spinning  wool  mixed  with  the  feathers 
of  sea  birds,  from  which  they  made  their  clothes. 
The  celebrated  poet  Ercilla  -was  one  of  the  party,  and 
solicitous  of  the  reputation  of  having  proceeded  fur- 
ther south  tlian  any  other  European,  he  crossed  the 
gulf,  and  upon  the  opposite  shore  inscribed  on  the 
bark  of  a  tree  some  verses  containing  his  name  and 
the  time  of  the  discovery,  the  31st  of  January,  1559. 

Don  Garcia,  satisfied  with  having  been  the  first 
to  discover  by  land  the  Archipelago  of  Chiloe,  re- 
turned, taking  for  his  guide  one  of  those  islanders, 


165 

Who  conducted  him  safely  to  Imperial  through  the 
country  of  the  Huilliches,  which  is  for  the  most  part 
level,  and  abounds  in  provisions.  The  inhabitants, 
who  are  similar  in  every  respect  to  their  western 
neighbours,  the  Cunchese,  made  no  opposition  to 
his  passage.  He  there  founded,  or  according  to 
6ome  writers,  rebuilt  the  city  of  Osorno,  which  in- 
creased rapidly,  not  less  from  its  manufactories  of 
woollen  and  linen  stufts,  than  from  the  fine  gold 
procured  from  its  mines,  which  were  afterwards  des- 
troyed by  the  Toqui  Paillamacu. 

During  this  expedition  Alonzo  Reynoso,  com- 
mander of  Cañete,  after  having  for  a  long  time  at- 
tempted by  offers  of  reward  and  by  means  of  tor- 
ture, to  obtain  from  the  natives  information  of  the 
retreat  of  Caupolican,  at  length  found  one  less  in- 
flexible, who  promised  to  discover  the  place  where 
he  had  concealed  himself,  since  his  last  defeat.  A 
detachment  of  cavalry  ^vas  immediately  sent  under 
the  guidance  of  this  spy,  and  at  day  break  made 
prisoner  of  that  great  man,  but  not  till  after  a  gal- 
lant resistance  from  ten  of  his  most  faithful  soldiers, 
who  would  not  abandon  him.  His  wife,  who  never 
ceased  exhorting  him  to  die  rather  than  surrender, 
on  seeing  him  taken,  indignantly  threw  towards  him 
his  infant  son,  saying,  she  would  retain  nothing  that 
belonged  to  a  coward. 

The  detachment  returned  to  the  city  amidst  the 
rejoicings  of  the  populace,  and  conducted  their 
prisoner  to  Reynoso,  who  immediately  ordered  Iiim 
to  be  impaled  and  dispatched  with  arrows.  On 
hearing  his  sentence,  Caupolican,  without  the  least 


166 

change  of  countenance,  or  abatement  of  his  wonted 
dignity,  coolly  addressed  Reynoso  in  these  words  : 
*'  My  death,  general,  can  answer  no  possible  end, 
except  that  of  inflaming  the  inveterate  hatred  which 
my  countrymen  already  entertain  against  yours. 
They  will  be  far  from  being  discouraged  by  the  loss 
of  an  unfortunate  chief.  From  my  ashes  will  arise 
many  other  Caupolicans,  who  will  prove  more  for- 
tunate than  I  have  been.  But  if  you  spare  my  life, 
from  the  great  influence  I  possess  in  the  country, 
I  may  be  serviceable  to  the  interests  of  your  sove- 
reign and  the  propagation  of  your  religion,  which, 
as  you  say,  is  the  only  object  of  this  destructive 
war.  But  if  you  are  determined  that  I  shall  die, 
send  me  to  Spain,  where,  if  your  king  thinks  proper 
to  condemn  me,  I  may  end  my  days  without  caus- 
ing new  disturbances  in  my  country." 

Vain  were  the  attempts  of  the  unfortunate  general 
to  prevail  upon  Reynoso,  whose  name  is  held  in 
detestation,  not  only  by  the  Araucanians,  but  by  the 
Spaniards  themselves,  who  have  ever  reprobated  his 
conduct,  as  contrary  to  those  principles  of  genero- 
sity on  which  they  pride  themselves  as  a  nation. 
He  ordered  the  sentence  to  be  immediately  execut- 
ed ;  and  a  priest,  who  had  been  sent  for  to  converse 
with  the  prisoner,  pretending  that  he  had  converted 
him,  hastily  administered  the  sacrament  of  baptism. 

After  this  mock  ceremony,  he  was  conducted, 
amidst  a  crowd  of  people,  to  a  scaflTold  that  had  been 
erected  for  his  execution  :  But  when  he  saw  the 
instrument  of  punit^hment,  which  until  then  he  did 
not  clearly  comprehend,  and  a  negro  prepared  to 
execute  him,  he  was  so  exasperated  that,  with  » 


167 

furious  kick,  he  hurled  the  executioner  from  the 
scaffold,  exclaiming,  "  Is  there  no  sword,  and  some 
less  unworthy  hand  to  be  found  to  put  to  death  a 
man  like  myself?  This  has  nothing  in  it  of  justice — 
it  is  base  revenge."  He  was,  however,  seized  by 
numbers,  and  compelled  to  undergo  the  cruel  and 
iijnominious  death  to  which  he  had  been  condemned. 


-aCS3«#^« 


CHAPTER  VIIL 


Successes  of  CaupoUcan  the  Second  ;  Siege  of  Im- 
perial ;  Battle  of  Qiiipeo  fatal  to  the  Araucaniam  ; 
Death  of  CaupoUcan  ;  Termination  of  the  Govern- 
ment of  Don  Garcia» 

SOON  were  the  predictions  of  the  great  Caupo- 
Ucan verified.  Instigated  by  the  most  unbounded 
rage,  the  Araucanians  immediately  proceeded  to 
elect  a  Toqui,  capable  of  revenging  the  ignominious 
"death  of  their  unfortunate  general.  The  majority  of 
the  electors  were  of  opinion,  that  in  the  present  cir- 
cumstances  the  fierce  Tncapel  was  better  qualified 
than  any  other  to  sustain  the  important  ofiice.  But 
this  choice  was  by  no  means  agreeable  to  the  sen- 
timents of  Colocólo  :  he  declared  himself  in  fa- 
vour of  young  CaupoUcan,  the  eldest  son  of  the  late 
general,  who  possessed  the  talents  of  his  celebrated 


168 

father.  This  opinion  was  adopted  and  confirmed  by 
the  Ulmenes.  Tucapel,  perceiving  that  the  affec- 
tions of  the  nation  were  placed  upon  his  competitor, 
had  a  second  time  the  magnanimity  to  yield  his 
claim  to  the  supreme  command  without  murmuring  ; 
he  "only  required  to  be  elected  Vice  Toqui,  which 
was  granted  him. 

The  new  general  immediately  collected  an  army, 
and  crossed  the  Bio-bio,  resolving  to  attack  the  city 
of  Conception,  which  he  had  been  informed  was  de- 
fended only  by  a  few  soldiers.  Reynoso,  having 
learned  his  intention,  followed  him  with  five  hun- 
dred men,  and  coming  up  with  him  at  Talcaguano, 
a  place  but  a  short  distance  from  that  city,  offered 
him  battle.  The  young  commander,  encouraging 
his  soldiers  by  his  words  and  his  example,  fell  with 
such  fury  upon  the  Spaniards,  that  he  entirely  de- 
feated them  ;  Reynoso,  pursued  and  wounded  by 
Tucapel,  had  the  good  fortune  to  be  able  to  repass 
the  Bio- bio  with  a  few  horse  that  had  escaped  the 
slaughter.  He  immediately  collected  more  troops, 
and  returned  to  attack  the  Auraucanian  camp  ;  but 
meeting  with  no  better  success  than  before,  he  was 
compelled  to  abandon  the  enterprise. 

At  the  close  of  this  second  action,  Millalauco, 
who  had  been  sent  to  compliment  the  Spaniards  in 
Quinquina,  returned  with  the  news  that  Don  Garcia 
had  quitted  Imperial,  with  a  large  body  of  troops, 
and  was  laying  waste  the  neighbouring  provinces. 
On  this  information  Caupolican,  by  the  advice  of 
Colocólo,  deferred  the  siege  of  Conception,  and  has- 
tened to  give  them  assistance,   leaving  a  number 


169 

of  men  under  the  command  of  Millalaucb,  to  oppose 
the  attempts  of  Reynoso.  Don  Garcia,  however, 
being  informed  of  his  march,  withdrew  to  Imperial, 
after  having  placed  two  hundred  horse  in  ambush 
on  the  road  by  which  he  was  to  pass.  The  Arauca- 
nian  general,  although  unexpectedly  attacked  by 
them,  defended  himself  with  such  presence  of  mind, 
that  he  not  only  escaped  without  loss,  but  cut  in 
pieces  a  great  part  of  his  assailants,  and  pursued  the 
rest  to  the  gates  of  Imperial,  which  he  girt  with  a 
close  siege. 

In  the  mean  time  Reynoso  and  Millalauco,  who 
had  several  times  encountered  each  other  in  skir- 
mishes, agreed  to  terminate  the  question  of  su- 
periority between  them  by  single  combat.  Such 
duels  had  become  very  common  during  that  war. 
The  two  champions  fought  a  long  time  without 
either  obtaining  "the  advantage,  till,  wearied  and  fa- 
tigued, they  separated  by  mutual  consent,  and  re- 
turned to  their  former  mode  of  warfare. 

The  siege  of  Imperial  was  prosecuted  with  much 
vigour.  Caupolican  had  made  several  assaults  upon 
that  city,  flattering  himself  with  the  aid  of  the  Span- 
ish auxiliaries,  which,  uncautioned  by  the  misfor- 
tunes of  his  father,  he  had  solicited  by  means  of 
two  of  his  officers,  Tulcomaru  and  Torquin.  These 
emissaries  were,  hovrevcr,  discovered  and  impaled 
in  sight  of  the  Araucanian  army,  to  whom  they 
recommended  with  their  last  breath  to  die  in  de- 
fence of  the  liberties  of  their  country. 

Vol.  II.  Y 


170 

One  hundred  and  twenty  of  the  auxiliaries  were 
also  hung  on  the  ramparts,  exhorting  the  others  to 
favour  the  enterprise  of  their  countrymen. 

The  Araucanian  general,  desirous  of  signalizing 
himself  by  the  capture  of  a  place  which  his  father 
had  twice  vainly  attempted,  made  another  assault 
still  more  violent  than  the  preceding,  in  which  his 
life  was  exposed  to  the  most  imminent  danger.  Se- 
veral times  in  person  did  he  scale  the  wall,  and  even 
effected  at  night  an  entrance  into  the  city,  followed 
by  Tucapel  and  a  number  of  brave  companions  ;  but 
repulsed  by  Don  Garcia,  whose  vigilance  was  pre- 
sent every  where,  he  withdrew,  constantly  fighting, 
and  covered  with  the  blood  of  his  enemies,  to  a  bas- 
tion, from  whence,  by  a  vigorous  leap,  he  rejoined 
his  troops,  who  were  very  apprehensive  for  the  safe- 
ty of  their  beloved  commander.  Wearied  at  length 
Vith  the  prosecution  of  a  siege  whose  operations 
were  too  sk)v/  for  his  impatience,  he  resolved  to 
abandon  it,  and  employ  his  arms  against  Reynoso,  in 
hopes  to  revenge  the  death  of  his  father,  but  Don 
Garcia,  ha\'ing  joined  that  officer,  rendered  all  his 
attempts  fruitless. 

The  campaign  of  the  following  year,  1559,  was 
rendered  still  more  memorable  by  the  numerous 
battles  that  were  fought  between  the  two  armies  ; 
but  as  these  produced  no  material  change  in  the 
state  of  aifairs,  it  will  not  be  necessary  to  give  a 
j)articular  account  of  them.  Notwithstanding  seve- 
ral of  these  encounters  were  favourable  to  the  Arau- 
canians,  Caupolican  resolved  to  protract  the  war, 
seeing  that  the  number  of  his  troops  vras  daily  di- 


171 

minished  from  their  being  continually  exposed  to 
the  fire  arms  of  their  enemies,  while,  on  the  con- 
trary, the  Spaniards  were  constantly  receiving  re- 
cruits from  Peru  and  from  Europe.  With  this  in- 
tention he  fortified  himself  between  the  cities  of 
Cañete  and  Conception,  in  a  place  called  Qiiipeo  or 
Cuyapu,  which  was  capable  of  being  defended  by  a 
few  men  against  any  number  of  enemies  unprovided 
with  artillery, 

Don  Garcia,  on  being  informed  of  this  measure, 
inarched  thither  immediately  with  all  his  troops  in 
order  to  dislodge  him,  but  observing  the  nature  of 
the  place,  he  delayed  several  days  making  a  general 
attack,  in  hopes  of  being  able  to  draw  him  from  his 
position,  that  his  cavalry  might  be  enabled  to  act 
with  more  advantage.  In  the  mean  time  frequent 
skirmishes  took  place  between  the  parties.  In  one 
of  these,  the  celebrated  Millalauco  was  made  pri- 
soner, who,  regardless  of  his  situation,  reproached 
ihe  Spanish  general  so  severely  with  his  cruel  man- 
ner of  making  war,  that,  inflamed  with  the  most  vio- 
lent passion,  he  ordered  him  instantly  to  be  im- 
paled. 

During  the  siege  the  traitor  Andrew  had  the  te- 
merity to  go,  by  order  of  Don  Garcia,  to  Caupoli- 
can,  and  threaten  him  with  the  most  dreadful  pun- 
ishment if  he  did  not  immediately  submit  to  the 
royal  authority.  The  Araucanian,  who  was  ex- 
tremely enraged  at  the  sight  of  the  betrayer  of  his 
father,  ordered  him  to  retire  immediately,  telling 
him  that  were  it  not  for  the  character  of  an  ambassa- 
dor with  which  he  was  invested,  he  would  put  him 


172 

to  death  with  the  most  cruel  tortures.  The  follow- 
ing da}'-,  however,  that  traitor  being  taken  as  a 
spy,  was  suspended  by  his  feet  from  a  tree  and  suf- 
focated with  smoke. 

Don  Garcia  at  length  commenced  his  attack  upon 
the  Araucanian  encampment,  by  a  violent  cannonade 
from  all  his  artillery.  Caupolican,  instigated  by  his 
soldiers,  who  were  eager  to  make  a  vigorous  sally,  fell 
with  such  fury  upon  the  Spaniards,  that,  at  the  first 
charge,  they  killed  about  forty,  and  continued 
slaughtering  them  until,  by  a  skilful  evolution,  the 
Spanish  general  cut  oif  the  retreat  of  the  Arauca- 
nians,  and  surrounded  them  upon  all  sides.  Caupo- 
lican, nevertheless,  valiantly  seconded  by  his  intre- 
pid band,  for  the  space  of  six  hours  rendered  the 
issue  of  the  battle  doubtful,  till,  seeing  Tucapel, 
Colocólo,  Renco,  Lincoyan,  Mariantu,  Ongolmo, 
and  several  others  of  his  most  valiant  officers  slain, 
he  attempted  to  retreat  with  the  small  remnant  of 
his  army,  but  being  overtaken  by  a  detachment  of 
horse,  he  slew  himself  to  avoid  the  melancholy  fate 
of  his  father. 

Although  the  events  that  afterwards  occurred  had 
convinced  Don  Garcia  that  he  had  deceived  himself 
in  supposing,  that  the  spirit  of  the  Araucanians  was 
entirely  broken  after  the  dreadful  massacre  at  Ca- 
ñete, he  however  on  this  occasion  thought  he  had 
good  reason  to  believe  the  war  wholly  at  an  end. 
The  battle  of  Quipco  appeared  to  him  decisive 
in  every  point  of  view  ;  the  principal  officers  who 
supported  the  courage  of  the  enemy  had  all  per- 
ished on  that  fatal  day  ;  their  nation  was  without 


173 

chiefs  and  without  troops,  and  appeared  to  be  sub- 
missive to  the  will  of  the  conquerors.  Under  the 
influence  of  these  flattering  ideas,  he  devoted  his 
whole  attention  to  repair  the  losses  occasioned  by 
the  war  ;  he  rebuilt  the  fortifications  that  had  been 
destroyed,  particularly  those  of  Araucoandof  An- 
gol  ;  he  restored  Villarica,  and  re-established  its  in- 
habitants ;  the  mines  that  had  been  abandoned  he 
caused  to  be  opened  anew,  and  others  to  be  explored  ; 
and  obtained  the  establishment  of  a  bishopric  in  the 
capital,  whither  he  went  himself  to  receive  the  first 
bishop,  Fernando  Barrionuevo,  a  monk  of  the  Fran- 
ciscan order. 

Finding  himself  prorided  with  a  good  number  of 
veteran  troops,  he  sent  a  part  of  them,  under  the 
command  of  Pedro  Castillo,  to  complete  the  conquest 
of  Cujo,  which  had  been  commenced  by  Francis 
De  Aguirre.  That  prudent  officer  subjected  the 
Guarpes,  the  ancient  inhabitants  of  that  province,  to 
the  Spanish  government,  and  founded  on  the  eastern 
limits  of  the  Andes  two  cities,  one  of  which  he  call- 
ed St.  Juan,  and  the  other  Mendoza,  from  the  family 
name  of  the  governor.  This  extensive  and  fertile 
country  remained  for  a  considerable  time  under  the 
government  of  Chili,  but  has  since  been  transferred 
to  the  viccroyalty  of  Buenos  Ayres,  to  which,  from 
its  natural  situation,  it  appertains. 

Whilst  in  this  manner  Don  Garcia  took  advantage 
of  the  apparent  calm  that  prevailed  in  the  country, 
he  heard  of  the  arrival  at  Buenos  Ayres  of  the  per- 
son appointed  his  succestior  by  the  court  of  Spain. 


174 

In  consequence  of  this  information  he  immediately 
quitted  the  kingdom,  confiding  the  government  for 
the  present  to  Rodrigo  de  Quiroga,  and  returned  to 
Peru,  where,  as  a  reward  for  his  services,  he  was 
promoted  to  the  exalted  station  which  his  father  had 
filled. 


THE 

CIVIL  HISTORY 

OF 

CHILL 

BOOK  IV. 

CHAPTER  I. 

The  Toqui  Antiguenu  recommences  the  War  ;  His 
Successes  against  Francis  Villagran^  the  Governor  ; 
Destruction  of  Cañete  ;  Sieges  of  Arauco  and  of 
Conception  ;  Battle  of  the  Bio-bio, 

THE  governor  appointed  in  place  of  Don  Garcia 
was  his  predecessor,  Francis  Villagran,  who  having 
gone  to  Europe  after  he  had  been  deprived  of  the 
government,  procured  his  reinstatement  therein  from 
the  court  of  Spain.  On  his  arrival  at  Chili,  suppo- 
sing from  the  information  of  Don  Garcia  and  Quiro- 
ga  that  nothing  more  was  necessary  to  be  done  with 
the  Araucanians,  and  that  they  were  in  no  condition 
to  give  him  trouble,  Villagran  turned  his  attention 
to  the  re-acquisition  of  the  province  of  Tucuman, 
which,  after  having  been  by  him,  in  1549,  subjected 
to  the  government  of  Chili,  had  been  since  attached 
ÍQ  the  viceroy alty  of  Peru.    Gregori  Castañeda,  who 


176 

had  the  charge  of  this  enterprise,  defeated  the  Pe- 
ruvian commander,  Juan  Zurita,  the  author  of  the 
dismemberment,  and  restored  the  country  to  the 
obedience  of  the  captains  general  of  Chili  ;  it  was, 
however,  retained  under  their  government  but  a 
sliort  time,  as  they  were  obliged  by  the  court  of 
Spain,  before  the  close  of  the  century,  to  cede  it 
again  to  the  government  of  Peru. 

But  neither  Don  Garcia  nor  Quiroga,  notwith- 
standing the  long  time  they  had  fought  in  Chili,  had 
formed  a  correct  opinion  of  the  temper  of  the  peo- 
ple whom  they  pretended  they  had  conquered.  The 
invincible  Araucanian  cannot  be  made  to  submit  to 
the  bitterest  reverses  of  fortune.  His  losses  them- 
selves, so  far  from  dejecting  or  dismaying  him,  ap- 
pear to  inspire  him  with  more  strength  and  va- 
lour. This  constancy,  or  obstinacy  as  some  may 
term  it,  is  certainly  wonderful  if  not  heroic.  The 
few  Ulmenes  who  had  cseaped  from  the  late  defeats, 
more  than  ever  determined  to  continue  the  war,  as- 
sembled immediately  after  the  rout  of  Quipeo  in  a 
wood,  where  they  unanimously  elected  as  Toqui  an 
officer  of  inferior  rank,  called  Antiguenu,  who  had 
signalized  himself  in  the  last  battle.  He  readily  ac- 
cepted the  command,  but  represented  to  the  electors, 
that  as  almost  all  the  youth  of  the  country  had  perish- 
ed, he  thought  it  expedient  for  them  to  retire  to 
some  secure  situation,  until  an  army  could  be  col- 
lected of  sufficient  strength  to  keep  the  field.  This 
prudent  advice  was  approved  by  all.  Antiguenu  re- 
tired with  the  few  soldiers  that  he  had  with  him  to 
the  inaccessible  marshes  of  Lu  maco,  called  by.  the 


177 

Spaniards  the  Rochela,  where  he  caused  high  scaf- 
iblds  to  be  erected  to  secure  his  men  from  the  ex- 
treme moisture  of  this  gloomy  retreat.  The  youth 
who  were  from  time  to  time  cnHsted  went  thitherto  be 
instructed  in  the  science  of  arms,  and  the  Araucanians 
still  considered  themselves  free  since  they  had  a 
Toqui. 

As  soon  as  Antiguenu  saw  himself  in  a  situation 
to  make  himself  feared,  he  quitted  his  retreat,  and 
began  to  make  incursions  into  the  Spanish  territory, 
in  order  to  practice  his  troops,  and  subsist  them 
at  the  expense  of  the  enemy.  When  this  unex- 
pected information  reached  St.  Jago,  it  caused  great 
inquietude  to  Villagran,  who,  from  his  long  expe- 
rience of  the  daring  spirit  of  the  Araucanians, 
foresaw  all  the  fatal  consequences  that  might  result 
from  this  war.  But  in  order,  if  possible,  to  stifle 
the  bursting  flame  at  its  commencement,  he  sent 
forward  immediately  his  son  Pedro  with  as  many 
troops  as  could  be  raised  in  so  short  a  time,  and 
soon  after  set  out  upon  the  march  himself  with  a 
much  greater  force. 

The  first  skirmishes  between  the  armies  were  by 
no  means  favourable  to  Antiguenu,  and  his  siege  of 
Cañete  was  attended  with  no  better  success.  As 
he,  however,  attributed  his  failure  to  the  inexpe- 
rience of  his  men,  he  sought  on  every  occasion 
to  accustom  them  to  the  use  of  arms.  At  length, 
upon  the  hills  of  Millapoa,  he  had  the  satisfac- 
tion of  showing  them  that  they  could  conquer,  by 
defeating  a  body  of  Spaniards  commanded  by  Arias 

Pardo. 
Vol.  il  Z 


178 

To  keep  up  and  iiicieast  tlie  ardour  T^-hich  this 
success  had  excited  in  the  minds  of  his  soldiers, 
Antiguenu  stationed  himself  upon  the  top  of  Mount 
MarigucnUja  place  of  fortunate  omen  forhiscountr_v, 
Villagran,  who  was  eitlîer  too  much  indisposed  with 
the  gout  to  assume  the  command  hiinself,  or  was 
averse  to  hazard  the  attack  of  a  place  that  had  prov- 
ed so  unfortunate  to  him,  gave  in  charge  to  one  of  his 
sons  to  dislodge  the  enemy  from  that  dangerous  post. 
'I'his  rash  and  enterprising  young  man  attacked  the 
Araucanian  entrenchments  with  so  little  precaution, 
that  almost  all  his  army,  consisting  of  the  flow^er  of 
the  Spanish  troops,  and  a  great  number  of  auxilia- 
ries, were  cut  in  pieces,  and  he  himself  was  killed  at 
the  cntriuice  of  the  enemy's  encampment. 

After  this  signal  victory,  Antiguenu  marched 
against  Cañete,  rightly  judging  that  in  the  present 
circumstances  it  would  be  unable  to  resist  him  ;  but 
Villagran,  who  was  likewise  convinced  of  the  im- 
possibility of  defending  it,  anticipated  him  by  with- 
drawing all  the  inhabitants,  part  of  whom  retired  to 
Imperial,  and  part  to  Conception.  On  their  arrival, 
the  Araucanians,  who  had  experienced  so  many  dis- 
asters in  the  vicinity  of  this  place,  had  no  other  trou- 
ble than  that  of  destroying  the  fortifications  and  set- 
ting it  on  fire,  and  in  a  short  time  it  was  entirely 
consumed. 

In  the  mean  time  Villagran,  more  the  victirn  of 
grief  and  mental  anxiety  than  of  his  disorder,  died, 
universally  icgretted  by  the  colonists,  who  lost  in 
him  a  wise,  humane  and  valiant  commander,  to 
w  hose  prudent  conduct  they  were  indebted  for  thr. 


179 

preservation  of  their  conquests.  Before  his  death 
he  appointed  as  his  successor,  by  a  special  commis- 
sion from  the  court,  his  eldest  son  Pedro,  whose 
mental  endowments  were  no  way  inferior  to  hi» 
father's. 

The  death  of  the  governor  appeared  to  Antigiienu 
to  present  a  favourable  opportunity  to  undertake 
some  important  enterprise.  Having  formed  his  ar- 
my, which  consisted  of  4,000  men,  into  two  divi- 
sions, he  ordered  one,  under  the  command  of  his 
Vice  Toqui  Antunecuî,  to  lay  siege  to  Conception, 
in  order  to  attract  thither  the  attention  of  the  Spa- 
niards, while  with  the  other  he  marched  against  the 
fort  of  Arauco,  which  was  defended  by  a  strong 
garrison,  under  the  command  of  Lorenzo  Bernai. 
Antunecul  passed  the  Bio-bio,  and  encamped  in  a 
place  called  Leokethal,  where  he  was  twice  attacked 
by  the  governor,  but  he  not  only  made  a  vigorous 
defence,  but  repulsed  him  with  loss,  and  followed 
him  to  the  city,  which  he  closely  invested  by  dispos- 
ing  his  troops  in  six  divisions  around  it.  The  siege 
was  continued  for  two  months,  every  day  of  which 
was  distinguished  by  some  gallant  assault.  But 
finding  all  his  attempts  fruitless,  as  he  could  not  pre- 
vent the  frequent  succours  that  were  sent  by  sea  to 
the  besieged,  he  finally  withdrew,  resolving  to  re- 
turn and  prosecute  the  enterprise  at  a  more  favour- 
able time. 

In  the  mean  time  the  defence  of  Arauco  was  main- 
tained with  the  greatest  vigour.  As  Antiguenu  had 
observed  that  whenever  he  attacked  the  place,  his 
bravest  officers  were  pointed  out  to  tlie  Spaniards 


180 

by  their  Indian  auxiliaries,  and  made  the  mark  of 
the  artillery,  he  resolved  to  take  a  severe  vengeance 
upon  them.  For  this  purpose  he  contrived  by  his 
emissaries  to  inform  the  Spanish  commander  that 
the  auxiliaries  were  intriguing  to  deliver  up  the  fort 
to  the  Araucanians.  Bernai  gave  such  credit  to  this 
false  report,  that  in  a  transport  of  fury  he  immedi- 
ately ordered  those  unfortunate  men  to  quit  the 
place,  notwithstanding  their  intreaties  and  remon- 
strances. This  was  the  sole  object  of  the  Arauca- 
.  nian  chieftain,  who  immediately  had  them  seized 
and  put  to  a  cruel  death  in  sight  of  the  Spaniards, 
who  were  extremely  exasperated  in  finding  them- 
selves so  grossly  imposed  on  by  a  barbarian. 

As  the  siege  was  protracted  to  a  considerable 
length,  Antiguenu  became  impatient,  and  wished  to 
bring  it  to  a  conclusion,  if  possible,  by  the  death  of 
the  governor  ;  with  this  view  he  challenged  him  to 
single  combat.  Notwithstanding  the  remonstrances 
of  his  soldiers,  Bernai,  who  deemed  himself  secure 
of  the  victory,  accepted  the  challenge.  The  bat- 
tle between  these  two  champions  was  continued  for 
two  hours  without  cither  obtaining  any  advantage 
or  injuring  the  other,  till  they  were  at  length  sepa- 
rated by  their  men.  But  what  force  had  not  been 
able  to  effect,  was  performed  by  famine.  Several 
boats  loaded  with  provisions  had  repeatedly  attempt- 
ed in  vain  to  relieve  the  besieged  ;  the  vigilance  of 
the  besiegers  opposed  so  insuperable  an  obstacle, 
that  Bernai  saw  himself  at  length  compelled  to  aban- 
don the  place.  The  Araucanians  permitted  the  gar- 
rison to  retire  without  molestation,  and  contented 


I 


181 

themselves  with  burning,  the  houses  and  demolish- 
ing- the  walls.         .'  -r^n\  -.  .     . 

The  capture  of  Angol,  after  that  of  Cañete  and 
Arauco,  appeared  so  easy  to  iVntiguenu,  that  he  gave 
it  in  charge  to  one  of  his  subalterns.  That  officer 
meeting  on  the  road  with  a  body  of  Spaniards  com- 
manded by  Zurita,  defeated  them,  but  was  afterwawls 
routed  in  his  turn  near  Mulchen  by  Diego  Carranza, 
whom  the  magistracy  of  that  city  had  sent  against 
him.  Antiguenu,  solicitous  of  maintaining  the  re- 
putation of  his  arms,  repaired  thither  in  person  with 
about  two  thousand  men,  in  order  to  finish  the  enter- 
prize,  but  before  assaulting  the  place  he  eaeamped 
at  the  confluence  of  the  Bio-bio  and  Vergosa,  where 
he  was  attacked  by  the  whole  Spanish  army,  under 
the  command  of  Bernai.  The  Araucanians  made 
use  with  much  skill  of  the  muskets  >*hich  they  had 
taken  at  the  defeat  of  Mariguenu,  and  sustained  the 
assault  for  three  hours  in  succession.  Four  hundred 
of  the  auxiliaries  and  a  number  of  Spaniards  had 
fallen,  when  their  infantry  began  to  give  way  and  be- 
take themselves  to  flight.  Bernai,  perceiving  no 
other  means  of  restraining  them,  commanded  the 
horse  to  slay  the  fugitives.  This  severe  order  was 
carried  into  execution,  and  checked  the  confusion. 
The  infantry  being  thus  compelled  to  fight,  attacked 
the  enemy's  intrenchments  with  such  vigour,  that 
they  finally  forced  them  and  penetrated  into  the  camp. 
Antiguenu  valiantly  opposed  the  assailants  in  person, 
but,  forced  along  with  a  crowd  of  his  soldiers  who 
fled,  he  fell  from  a  high  bank  into  the  river  and  v/as 
drowned.    His  death  decided  the  battle.     Great  was 


182 

the  slaughter  of  the  Araucanians.  Many  also  perish- 
ed in  the  river,  into  which  they  had  thrown  them- 
selves to  escape.  In  this  battle,  which  was  fought 
in  1564,  the  conquerors  themselves  were  almost  all 
wounded,  and  lost  many  of  their  men,  but  recovered 
forty-one  muskets,  twenty-one  cuirasses  and  fifteen 
helmets,  with  a  great  number  of  lances  and  other 
weapons. 

While  these  events  passed  on  the  shore  of  the 
Bio-bio,  Lillemu,  who  had  been  sent  by  Antiguenu 
to  lay  waste  the  provinces  of  Chilian  and  Itata  de- 
feated a  detachment  of  eighty  Spaniards,  command- 
ed by  Pedro  Balsa.  In  the  mean  time  the  governor, 
leaving  Conception  with  one  hundred  and  fifty  sol- 
diers, cut  off  a  party  of  the  Araucanians  that  were 
ravaging  Chilian.  Lillemu  hastened  to  their  relief, 
but  on  his  arrival,  finding  them  dispersed,  he  only 
saved  the  remainder  of  his  troops  by  making  a  gallant 
stand  in  a  narrow  pass  with  several  determined 
youth.  This  noble  eftbrt  of  patriotic  courage  gave 
time  to  his  army  to  effect  their  escape,  but  it  cost 
the  lives  of  Lillemu  and  his  valiant  companions. 


183 


CHAPTER  II. 


Paillataru  elected  Toqui  ;  Government  of  Rodrigo  de 
Quiroga  ;  Conquest  of  the  Archipelago  of  Chiloc  ; 
Description  of  its  inhabitants, 

ANTIGUENU  had  for  successor  in  the  Toqui- 
ate  Paillataru,  the  brother  or  cousin  of  the  celebrat- 
ed Lautaro,  but  his  character  was  of  a  very  différent 
stamp.  Slow  and  extremely  circumspect  in  his  ope- 
rations, he  contented  himself  during  the  first  years 
of  his  command  in  maintaining  undiminished  the 
love  of  liberty  in  the  bosoms  of  his  countrymen,  and 
in  leading  them  from  time  to  time  to  ravage  the 
enemy's  country.  During  the  same  time  a  change 
was  made  of  the  Spanish  governor  :  Rodrigo  de  Qui- 
roga,  who  had  been  appointed  to  that  office  by  the 
Royal  Audience  of  Lima,  began  his  administration 
by  arresting  his  predecessor,  and  sending  him  pri- 
soner to  Peru. 

Having  received  a  reinforcement  of  three  hun- 
dred soldiers  in  1665,  he  entered  the  Araucanian 
territory,  rebuilt  the  fort  of  Arauco  and  the  city  of 
Cañete,  constructed  a  new  fortress  at  the  celebrated 
post  of  Quipeo,  and  ravaged  the  neighbouring  pro- 
vinces. Towards  the  end  of  the  following  year  he 
sent  the  Marshal  Ruiz  Gamboa  with  sixty  men  to 
subject  the  inhabitants  of  the  Archipelago  of  Chi- 
loe  ;    that  officer  encountered   no   resistance,  and 


184 

founded  in  tlie  principal  island  the  city  of  Castro 
and  the  port  of  Chacao. 

The  islands  of  the  Archipelago  amount  to  eighty, 
and,  like  most  other  islands,  have  been  produced  by 
earthquakes,  owing  to  the  s^reat  number  of  volcanoes 
with  which  that  country  formerly  abounded.  Every 
part  of  them  exhibits  the  most  unquestionable  marks 
of  fire.  Several  mountains  in  the  great  island  of 
Chiloe,  w^hich  has  given  its  name  to  the  Archipe- 
lago, are  composed  of  basaltic  columns,  which, 
whatever  may  be  said  to  the  contrary,  could  have 
been  produced  only  by  the  operation  of  fire. 

The  native  inhabitants,  though   descended  from 
the  continental  Chilians,  as  their  appearance,  their 
manners  and  their  language  all  evince,  are  neverthe- 
less of  a  very  different  character,  being  of  a  pacific 
or  rather  a  timid  disposition.     They  made  no  oppo- 
sition, as  we  have  already  observed,  to  the  handful  of 
Spaniards  whocametherctosubjugate  them,  although 
their  population  is  said  to   have  exceeded  seventy 
thousand  ;  nor  have  they  ever  attempted  to  shake  off 
the  yoke  until  the  beginning  of  the  present  century, 
\vhen  an  insurrection  of  no  great  importance  was  ex- 
cited, which  was  soon  quelled.     The  number  of  in- 
habitants at  present  amounts  to  upwards  of  eleven 
thousand  ;  they  are  divided  into  seventy-six   dis- 
tricts or  Ulmenates,   the  greater  part  of  which  are 
subject  to  the  Spanish  commanders,  and  are  obliged 
to  render  personal  service  for  fifty  days  in  the  year, 
according  to  the  feudal  laws,  which  are  rigidly  ob- 
served in  this  province,   notwithstanding  they  have 
been  fora  long  time  abolished  throughout  the  rest 
of  the  kingdom. 


1B5 

These  islanders  generally  possess  a  quickness  of 
capacity,  and  very  readily  learn  whatever  is  taught 
them.  They  have  a  genius  for  the  mechanical  arts, 
and  excel  in  carpentery,  cabinet  making  and  turnery, 
from  the  frequent  occasions  which  they  have  to  ex,- 
ercise  them,  all  their  churches  and  houses  being 
built  of  wood.  They  are  very  good  manufacturers 
of  linen  and  woollen,  with  which  they  mix  the  fea- 
thers of  sea-birds,  and  form  beautiful  coverings  for 
their  beds.  They  make  also  ponchos,  or  cloaks  of 
various  kinds,  striped  or  embroidered  with  silk  or 
thread.  From  their  swine,  which  are  very  nume- 
rous, they  make  excellent  hams,  the  most  esteemed 
of  any  in  South  America, 

Notwithstanding  the  great  quantity  of  timber  an- 
nually taken  from  them,  these  islands  are  covered 
with  thick  woods  ;  and  as  it  rains  there  almost 
incessantly,  the  cultivated  grounds  continue  wet  the 
whole  year.  From  hence  it  follows  that  the  in- 
habitants, although  they  have  cattle,  make  no  use 
of  them  for  ploughing,  but  till  the  earth  in  a  very 
singular  manner.  About  three  months  before  sow- 
ing time  they  turn  their  sheep  upon  their  lands, 
changing  their  situation  every  tliree  or  four  nights. 
When  the  field  is  sufficiently  manured  in  this  man- 
ner they  strew  the  grain  oyer  it.  One  of  their  strong- 
est men  then  attempts  .  to  harrow  it  by  means'  of  a 
machine  formed  of  two  large  sticks  of  hard  wood 
made  sharp  and  fastened  together,  which  he  forces 
into  the  ground  with  his  breast,  and  thus  covers  the 
^eed.  Notwithstanding  this  imperfect  tillage,  a  crop 
of  wheat  will  yield  them  ten   or  twelve  for   one. 

Vol..  U.  ,V  a 


186 

They  also  raise  great  quantities  jqí  barley,  beans, 
peas,  qu'tnoa  and  potatoes  which  are  the  largest  and 
best  of  any  in  Chili.  From  the  excessive  moisture 
of  the  atmospliere  the  grape  never  acquires  suffi- 
cient maturity  to  be  made  into  wine,  but  its  want  is 
supplied  by  various  kinds  of  cider,  obtained  from 
apples  and  other  wild  fruits  of  the  countr}\ 

The  necessity  that  they  are  under  of  often  going 
from  one  island  to  another,  where  the  sea  is  far  from 
deserving  the  name  of  the  Pacific,  renders  the  Chi- 
lotes  excellent  sailors.  Their  piragues  are  composed 
of  three  or  five  large  planks  sewed  togetiier,  and 
caulked  with  a  species  of  moss  that  grows  on  a 
shrub.  These  are  in  great  numbers  throughout  the 
whole  of  the  Archipelago,  and  are  managed  with 
sails  and  oars,  and  in  these  frail  skiffs  the  natives 
will  frequently  venture  as  far  as  Conception.* 

These  people  are  fond  of  fishing,  an  occupation  to 
which  they  are  led  from  the  great  variety  of  fish 
with  which  their  coasts  abound.  Large  quantities  of 
these  are  dried  and  sent  to  foreign  countries.  They 
likewise  dry  the  testaceous  kinds,  particularly  the 
conchs,  the  clamps  and  the  piures.  For  this  pur- 
pose they  arrange  them  in  a  long  trench,  covering 
them  with  the  large  leaves  of  the  panke  tinctoria. 
Over  these  they  place  stones  on  which  they  make  a 
hot  fire  for  several  hours.  They  then  take  the  roast- 
ed animals  from  their  shells,  and  string  them  upon 

*  It  will  not  be  improper  to  observe  here,  that  the  Indians  who 
form  the  principal  part  of  the  sailors  of  the  South  Seas  are  very 
active,  docile  and  industiious,  and  excellent  seamen  for  these  mild 
and  temperate  climates Sfianiah  2'rans, 


187 

threads,  which  they  hang  for  some  time  in  the  smoke. 
In  this  mode  they  keep  very  well,  and  are  carried  to 
Cujo  and  other  places  at  a  distance  from  the  sea. 

As  soon  as  the  Christian  religion  was  preached  in 
Chiloe  it  was  readily  embraced  by  the  natives,  who 
have  ever  since  continued  faithful  and  obedient  to 
its  precepts.  Their  spiritual  concerns  are  under  the 
direction  of  the  bishop  of  Conception,  and  their 
temporal  are  administered  by  a  governor  appointed 
by  the  captain -general  of  Chili.*  The  Spaniards  at 
present  established  in  this  Archipelago  amount  to 
about  fifteen  thousand,  and  its  commerce  is  conduct- 
ed by  means  of  three  or  four  ships  which  trade  there 
annually  from  Peru  and  Chili.  To  these  they  sell 
large  quantities  of  red  cedar  boards,  timber  of  dif- 
ferent kinds  suitable  for  carriages,  upwards  of  two 
thousand  ponchos  of  various  qualities,  hams,  pil- 
chards, dried  shell-fish,  white  cedar  boxes,  cloaks, 
embroidered  girdles,  and  a  small  quantity^  of  am- 
bergris which  is  found  upon  the  shores  ;  and  receive 
in  exchange  wine,  brandy,  tobacco,  sugar,  herb  of 
Paraguay,  salt,  and  several  kinds  of  European  goods. 

*  The  temporal  government  of  these  islands  at  the  present 
time  (1792)  is  vested  in  the  viceroyalty  of  Lima Sfie/iith  Trtvn, 


188 


CHAPTER  III. 


JEstablishment  of  the  Court  of  Royal  Audience  ;  Go- 
vernment of  Don  Melchor  Bravo  de  Saravia  ;  Mi- 
litary operation  of  Paillataru^  and  of  his  succes- 
sor Paynenancu  ;  Suppression  of  the  Court  of  Au- 
dience ;  Second  Government  of  Quiroga  ;  Foun- 
dation of  Chilian  ;  Some  Account  of  the  Pehu- 
enchçs, 

THE  continuation  of  the  war,  and  the  great  im- 
portance of  the  conquest,  finally  induced  Philip  H. 
to  erect  a  court  of  Royal  Audience  in  Chili,  indé- 
pendant of  that  of  Peru.  To  this  he  confided,  not 
only  the  political,  but  even  the  military  administra- 
tion of  that  kingdom.  This  supreme  tribunal,  which 
was  composed  of  four  judges  of  law,  and  a  fiscal, 
on  the  13th  of  August,  15G7,  made  its  solemn  entry 
into  Conception,  where  it  fixed  its  residence.  Im- 
mediately on  assuming  its  functions  it  removed  Qui- 
roga from  the  government,  and  gave  the  conimand 
of  the  army  with  the  title  of  general  to  Ruiz  Gam- 
boa. 

This  commander,  having  learned  that  Paiilataru 
was  preparing  to  besiege  the  city  of  Cañete,  hastened 
thither  immediately,  and  finding  him  in  possession 
of  a  post  not  far  from  that  place,  attacked  and  de- 
feated him  after  a  long  and  obstinate  contest.  This 
defeat  enabled  the  victors  to  overrun  and  lay  waste 


1^9       ~ 

the  country,  without  opposition,  for  tht-  space  of  ri 
year,  from  whence  they  took  a  great  iu)ml;cr  of  wo- 
men and  children,  whom  they  made  bkivcb.  In  the 
mean  time  the  Spanish  general  attempted  n^peatedly, 
to  no  purpose,  to  persuade  «the  Araucaniaris  to  com- 
mence négociations  for  peace.  Preferring  all  pos- 
sible evils  to  the  loss  of  liberty,  they  constantly  re- 
fused to  lend  an  ear  to  hi«  proposals. 

As  peace,  so  necessary  to  the  welfare  of  the  co- 
lony, appeared  to  be  daily  more  remote,  noiwi,t}s- 
standing  no  means  were  spared  to  obtain  it,  the 
military  government  of  the  Ro}  al  Audience  was 
thought  inadequate  to  the  purpose  of  its  estalDlish- 
ment;  and  it  was  deemed  more  expedient  to  place  it, 
as  before,  in  the  hands  of  a  single  chief,  distinguish- 
ed by  the  new  titles  of  president,  governor  and 
captain- general  of  Chili,  from  his  being  president  of 
the  Royal  Audience,  the  head  of  the  civil  depart- 
ment, and  commander  of  the  armies.  Don  Melchor 
de  Bravo  was,  in  1568,  invested  with  this  triple 
character  ;  a  man  well  qualified  to  fill  the  tvro  first 
offices,  but  utterly  incompetent  to  sustain  the  latter. 

He  was  nevertheless  very  desirous  of  engaging  the 
enemy,  and  signalizing  the  commencement  of  his 
government  by  a  splendid  victory.  Having  learned 
that  Paillataru,  who  had  collected  a  new  army,  had  oc- 
cupied the  fatal  height  of  Mariguenu,  which  the  Spa- 
niards, for  what  reason  I  know  not,  had  never  thought 
of  fortifying,  he  immediately  marched  against  him  at 
the  head  of  three  hundred  European  soldiers,  and  a 
large  number  of  auxiliaries.  Paillataru,  like  several  of 
his  predecessors,  had  the  glory  of  rendering  this  moun- 


190 

tail;  famous  by  the  total  defeat  of  the  Spanish  army. 
Tlic  president,  who  very  fortunately  escaped  being 
made  prisoner,  withdrew  precipitately  with  the  small 
remnant  of  his  troops  to  the  city  of  Angol.  Greatly 
intimidated  by  his  defeat,  he  there  resigned  the 
command  of  the  army  to  Gamboa,  the  marshal,  and 
to  the  quarter- master  Velasco,  whom  he  ordered 
immediately  to  evacuate  liie  so  often  destroyed  and 
rebuilt  fortress  of  Arauco.  Tlïese  officers,  while 
conducting  the  inhabitants  of  that  place  to  Cañete, 
fell  in  with  a  division  of  the  enemy,  which  they  at- 
tacked and  defeated.  Nevertheless,  Paillataru,  having 
taken  the  post  of  Quipeo,  marched  two  days  after 
against  that  city  with  a  determination  to  blockade  it, 
when  the  marshal  came  out  to  meet  him  with  all  the 
troops  that  he  could  raise.  The  battle  was  continued 
for  more  than  two  hours,  and  was  one  of  the  bloodiest 
ever  fought  in  Chili.  The  Spaniards,  though  se- 
verely haixlled,  remained  masters  of  the  field  ;  but 
Paillataru,  having  in  a  short  time  repaired  his  losses, 
returned  to  oppose  the  marshal,  who  had  entered 
the  Araucanian  territory  to  ravage  it,  and  compelled 
him  to  retreat  with  loss. 

After  this  success,  the  two  belligerent  nations  ob- 
served, till  the  death  of  Paillataru,  a  period  of  about 
four  years,  a  truce  or  suspension  of  arms.  This 
was  probably  in  a  great  measure  owing  to  the  gene- 
ral consternation  caused  by  a  dreadful  earthquake, 
which  was  felt  throughout  the  country,  and  did 
great  injury  to  the  Spanish  settlements,  particularly 
the  city  of  Conception,  which  was  entirely  destroy- 
ed.    The  Spaniards,  ever  attentive  to  consolidate 


in 

and  give  importance  to  their  conquests,  erected,  in 
1570,  another  bishopric  in  the  city  of  Imperial,  to 
which  they  assigned  as  a  diocese  the  vast  extent  of 
country  lying  between  the  river  Maule  and  the 
southern  confines  of  Chili. 

About  this  time  the  Musteea,  or  descendants  of 
the  Spaniards  and  Indians,  having  multiplied  great- 
ly, the  Araucanians,  perceiving  the  advantages 
which  they  might  derive  from  their  assistance,  re- 
solved to  attach  them  to  their  cause,  by  letting  them 
see  that  they  considered  them  as  their  countrymen. 
With  this  view,  on  the  death  of  Paillataru  in  1574, 
they  conferred  the  office  of  Toqui  on  one  of  these 
men,  called  Alonzo  Diaz,  who  had  taken  the  Chi- 
lian name  of  Paynenancu,  and  had  for  ten  years 
fought  in  their  armies,  where  he  had  distinguished 
himself  by  his  valour  and  abilities.  If  his  pre- 
decessor had  the  fault  of  being  too  cautious,  the 
new  Toqui,  on  the  contrary,  to  avoid  that  imputa- 
tion, was  so  rash  and  daring  that  he  almost  alvva3's 
attacked  the  Spaniards  with  troops  inferior  in  num- 
ber, whence  all  his  enterprises  had  that  result  which 
might  naturally  have  been  expected. 

As  soon  as  he  was  invested  with  the  command  he 
crossed  the  Bio-bio,  probably  with  an  intention  of 
attacking  Conception,  but  before  he  reached  it  he 
was  attacked  and  defeated  in  his  entrenchments  by 
the  quarter- master  Bernai,  notwithstanding  the  íí^reat 
valour  with  which  he  defended  himself  ibr  a  long 
time.  Among  the  prisoners  taken  upon  this  occa- 
*sion  were  several  women  who  were  found  in  arms, 
the  greater  part  of  whom  killed  themselves  the  same 


19i 

night.  Payiienancu,  having  escaped  from  the  car- 
nage, marched  against  Villarica,  but  was  again  de- 
feated by  Rodrigo  Bastidas,  the  commandant  of  that 
city. 

Whilst  the  war  was  thus  enkindled  anew,  the  li- 
centiate Calderón  airived  at  Chili,  in  1575,  with  a 
commission  from  the  court  of  Spain  as  examiner. 
His  first  step  was  to  suppress  the  tribunal  of  audi- 
ence, on  the  sole  principle  of  economy.  The  audi- 
tors themselves  were  ordered  back  to  Peru,  and  in- 
stead of  the  president  Sarabia,  Rodrigo  Quiroga, 
wlio  but  a  few  years  before  had  been  appointed  go- 
vernor  by  the  Audience  of  Lima,  was  again  rein- 
stated in  that  office  by  order  of  Philip  II. 

That  experienced  officer,  having  assembled  all  the 
troops  that  he  could  raise  in  the  present  circumstan- 
ces, proceeded  in  1756  to  the  frontiers  to  oppose  the 
progress  of  Paynenancu,  who,  notwithstanding  he 
had  been  twice  defeated,  continued  constantly  to 
harrass  the  Spanish  settlements  ;  but  not  being  able 
to  meet  him,  he  contented  himself  with  ravaging 
tiie  country. 

In  the  mean  time,  having  received  a  reinforcement 
of  two  thousand  men  from  Spain,  he  gave  directions  to 
his  father-in-law,  Ruiz  Gamboa,  to  found  a  new  colo- 
ny at  the  foot  of  the  Cordilleras,  between  the  cities  of 
Santiago  and  Conception,  which  has  since  received 
the  appellation  of  Chilian,  from  the  river  on  whose 
shore  it  stands,  and  has  become  the  capital  of  the 
fertile  province  of  that  name.  Shortly  after  the  es- 
tablishment of  this  settlement,  in  1580,  the  governor 
died  at  a  very  advanced  age,  having  nominated  Gam- 


193 

boa  as  liis  successor.  The  three  years  of  Gamboa's 
government  were  occupied  on  one  side  in  opposing 
'  the  attempts  of  Paynenancu,  and  on  the  other  in  re- 
pelling the  Pehuenches  and  Chiquillanians,  \vho, 
instigated  by  the  Araucanians,  had  begun  to  molest 
the  Spanish  settlements.- 

The  Pehuenches  form  a  numerous  tribe,  and  in- 
habit that  part  pf  the  Chilian  Andes  lying  between 
the  34th  and  37th  degrees  of  south  latitude,  to  the 
east  of  the  Spanish  provinces  of  Calchagua,  Maule, 
Chillan  and  Huilquilemu.  Their  dress  is  no  way 
different  from  that  of  the  Araucanians,  except  that 
instead  of  drawers  or  breeches,  they  wear  around 
the  waist  a  piece  of  cloth  like  the  Japanese,  which 
falls  down  to  the  knees.  Their  boots,  or  shoes,  are 
all  of  one  piece,  and  made  from  the  skin  of  the  hind 
»  leg  of  an  ox  taken  off  at  the  knee,  this  they  fit  to 
the  foot  while  green,  turning  the  hair  within,  and 
sewing  up  one  of  the  ends,  the  skin  of  the  knee 
serving  for  the  heel.  These  shoes,  by  being  worn 
and  often  rubbed  with  tallow,  become  as  soft  and 
pliable  as  the  best  dressed  leather. 

Although  these  mountaineers  have  occasionally 
^hown  themselves  to  be  valiarit  and  hardy  soldiers, 
they  are  nevertheless  fond  of  adorning  and  decorat- 
ing themselves  like  women.  They  wear  ear-rings 
and  bracelets  of  glass  beads  upon  their  arms  ;  tliey 
also  ornament  their  hair  with  the  same,  and  suspend 
little  bells  around  their  heads.  Notwithstanding  they 
have  numerous  herds  of  cattie  and  sheep,  their  usu- 
al food  is  horse  fiesh,  which,  like  the  Tartars,  they 

Vet.  ÍI.  B  b 


iy4 

prefer  to  any  other,  but,  rnore  delicate  than  that  peo- 
ple, they  eat  it  only  when  boiled  or  roasted. 

They  dwell  in  the  manner  of  the  Bedouin  Arabs, 
in  tents  made  of  skins,  disposed  in  a  circular  form, 
leaving  in  the  centre  a  spacious  field,  w^here  their 
cattle  feed  during  the  continuance  of  the  herbage. 
When  that  begins  to  fail  they  transport  their  habita- 
tions to  another  situation,  arid  in  this  manner,  con- 
tinually changing  place,  they  traxerse  the  vallies  of 
the  Cordilleras.  This  wandering  life  is  not,  however, 
without  its  pleasures  :  by  this  means  they  acquire 
new  acquaintances,  new  accommodations,  and  new 
prospects. 

Each  village  or  encampment  is  governed  by  an 
Ulmen,  or  hereditary  prince.  In  their  language  and 
religion  ijiey  differ  not  from  the  Araucanians.  They 
are  fond  of  hunting,  and  often,  in  pursuit  of  game, 
traverse  the  immense  plains  that  lie  between  the  great 
river  of  Plata  and  the  straits  of  Magellan.  These 
excursions  they  sometimes  extend  as  far  as  Buenos 
A}res,  and  plunder  the  country  in  the  vicinity. 
They  frequently  attack  the  caravans  of  merchandize 
going  from  thence  to  Chili,  and  so  successful  have 
they  been  in  their  enterprises,  that  at  present,  owing 
to  that  cause,  the  comiaerce  in  that  quarter  is  said 
to  be  almost  entirely  stopped.* 

f  It  n)ay  be  ]icre  proper  t»)  relate  what  I  mysclf'no.ticed  on  my 
passage  through  these  districts.  On  the  27th  of  April,  1783,  I  left 
Mendoza  with  post  horses  for  Buenos  Ayres.  We  soon  learned 
from  somcptopie  whom  we  met,  that  the  Pehucnches  were  out  on 
their  excursions  ;  and  we  soon  after  received  the  melancholy  in- 
formation of  the  niassacics  they  had  committed  in  the  Portion  of 
^lu'^daltna.    lu  consequence   of  this  there  was  not  a  post  house 


195 

They  havC<  nevertheless,  for  many  years  abstained 
from  committing  hostilities  within  the  Chilian  boun- 
daries in  time  of  peace,  induced  either  by  the  ad- 
vantages which  they  derive  from  the  trade  with  the 
inhabitants,  or  from  the  fear  of  behig  roughly 
handled  by  them.  Their  favourite  weapon  is  the 
lague,  already  described^  which  they  always  carry 
with  them  fastened  to  their  girdles.  It  is  very  pro- 
bable that  the  ten  Americans  conducted  by  the  va- 
liant Orellana,  of  whose  amazing  courage  mention 
is  made  in  Lord  Anson's  Voyage,  were  of  this  tribe. 

Notwithstanding  their  wandering  and  restless  dis- 
position, these  people  are  the  most  industrious  and 
commercial  of  any  of  the  sa\'ages.  When  in  their 
tents  they  are  never  idle.  The  women  weave  cloths 
of  various  colours  ;  the  men  occupy  themselves  in 

where  v/e  stopped  but  was  in  a  state  of  alarm,  and  we  came  to 
some  that  were  absokitely  deserted  through  fear.  The  year 
before  about  three  hundred  Indians,  lying  back  updh  their 
horses,  trailing  their  lances  behind  tliem,  in  order  to  have  it 
supposed  that  it  was  one  of  those  droves  of  mavcs  so  common 
in  those  Pampas,  appeared  all  at  once  before  the  post  of  Gutierrez  ; 
but,  svipposing  it  strongly  guarded,  were  deterred  from  attack- 
ing it,  although  they  saw  but  one  man,  who  patroled  (he  wall 
with  his  musket,  and  was  indeed  the  only  person  in  it.  This  ma» 
knew  well  that  the  horses  were  guided,  by  the  order  and  course 
they  pursued,  although  he  could  see  nothing  of  their  riders  till 
they  had  come  very  near.  He  had  the  prudence,  however,  not  to 
fire  at  them,  which  probably  led  them  to  believe  there  was  a 
greater  force  within  the  place,  and  induced  them  to  abandon  the 
enterprise  and  vent  their  fury  upon  the  ujifortunate  inhabitants  of 
those  plains.  The  commander  of  tlie  post  of  Amatrain  was  not  so 
fortunate  ;  he  was  killed  the  same  year  with  a  negro  who  attend- 
ed him.  These  posts  are  fortified  with  palisades,  or  with  a  mud 
wall,  and  have  a  ditch  and  «  draw-bridge 


196 

ínaking  baskets  and  a  variety  of  beautiful  articles  of 
wood,  feathers  or  skins,  which  are  highly  prized  by 
their  neighbours.  They  assemble  every  year  on 
the  Spanish  frontier,  where  they  hold  a  kind  of  fair 
that  usually  continues  for  fifteen  or  twenty  days. 
Hither  they  bring  fossil  salt,  gypsum,  pitch,  bed- 
coverings,  ponchos,  skins,  wool,  bridle-reins  beau- 
tifully wrought  of  plaited  leather,  baskets,  wooden 
vessels,  feathers,  ostrich  eggs,  horses,  cattle,  and  a 
variety  of  other  articles  ;  and  receive  in  exchange 
wheat,  wine,  and  the  manufactures  of  Europe.  They 
are  very  skilful  in  traffic,  and  can  with  difficulty  be 
overreached.  For  fear  of  being  plundered  by  those 
who  believe  that  any  thing  is  lawful  against  infidels, 
they  never  all  drink  at  the  same  time,  but  sepa- 
rate themselves  into  several  companies,  and  while 
some  keep  guard  the  others  indulge  themselves  in 
the  pleasures  of  wine.  They  are  generally  humane, 
complacent,  lovers  of  justice,  and  possess  all  those 
go<:)d  qualities  that  are  produced  or  perfected  by 
commerce. 

The  Chiquillanians,  whom  some  have  erroneously 
supposed  to  be  a  part  of  the  Pehuenches,  live  to  the 
north  east  of  them,  on  the  eastern  borders  of  the 
Andes.  These  are  the  most  savage,  and,  of  course, 
tjie  least  numerous  of  any  of  the  Chilians,  for  it  is 
an  established  fact  that  the  ruder  the  state  of  savage 
life,  the  more  unfavourable  is  it  to  population.  They 
go  almost  naked,  merely  wrapping  around  them  the 
skin  of  the  guanaco.*     It  is  observable  that  all  the 

*  The  anoiiymouo  accovmt  of  Chili  published  at  Bologna,  in 
speaking  of  this  nation,  observes,  that  their  language  is  guttural, 
and  a  very  corrupt  jargou  of  tbe  Chilian. 


197 

Chilians  who  inhabit  tli<i  eastern  values  of  the  Andes, 
both  the  Pehucnches,  the  Puelches,  and  the  Huilli- 
ches,  as  well  as  the  Chiquillaiiians,  are  much  redder 
than  those  of  their  countrymen  who  dwell  to  the 
westward  of  that  mountain.  AH  these  mountaineers 
dress  themselves  in  skins,  paint  their  faces,  live  in 
gen«ral  by  hunting,  and  lead  a  wandering  and  un- 
settled life.  They  are  no  other,  as  I  have  hitherto 
observed,  than  the  so  much  celebrated  Patagonians, 
who  have  occasionally  been  seen  near  the  straits  of 
Magellan,  and  have  been  at  one  time  described  as 
giants,  and  at  another  as  men  a  little  above  the  com- 
mon stature.  It  is  true  that  they  are,  generally 
speaking,   of  a  lofty  stature  and  great  strength. 


>*®©<^=-= 


CHAPTER  IV. 


Governmeiit  of  the  Marquis  de  Villar-hermosa  ;  His 
Successes  against  Paynenancii;  Capture  and  Death 
of  that  Genei'al  ;  Enterprises  of  the  Toqui  Cayan- 
cura  and  his  Son  Nangoniel  ;  Landing  of  the  Eng- 
lish in  Chili  ;   Operations  of  the  Toqui  Cadcguala. 

AS  soon  as  information  v.as  received  in. Spain  of 
the  death  of  Quiroga,  the  king  sent  out  as  governor 
to  Chili  Don  Alonzo  Sotomayor,  with  eix  hundred 
regular  troops,   who,  in    1583,    landed  at  Buenos 


1 98 

Ayres,  and  from  thence  proceeded  to  Santiago.  He 
immediately  sent  his  brother  Don  Louis,  whom  he 
appointed  to  the  new  office  of  colonel  of  the  king- 
dom, to  succour  the  cities  of  Villarica  and  Valdivia, 
which  were  besieged  by  the  Araucanians.  That  of- 
ficer raised  the  sieges  of  those  places  after  having 
twice  defeated  Paynenancu,  who  attempted  to  oppose 
his  march.  Notwithistanding  these  reverses  the  en- 
terprising Toqui  turned  his  arms  against  Tiburcio 
Heredia,  and  afterwards  against  Antonio  Galleguil- 
los,  who  were  ravaging  the  country  with  a  large 
body  of  cavalry  ;  by  these  he  was  likewise  defeated, 
but  the  victors  paid  dearly  for  their  victory. 

In  the  mean  time  the  governor,  having  driven  off 
the  Pehuenches  who  infested  the  new  settlement  of 
Chilian,  entered  the  Araucanian  territory  with  seven 
hundred  Spaniards  and  a  great  number  of  auxilia- 
ries, resolved  to  pursue  the  rigorous  system  of  mak- 
ing war  which  had  been  adopted  by  Don  Garcia,  in 
preference  to  the  mild  and  humane  policy  of  his  im- 
mediate predecessors.  The  province  of  Encol  was 
the  first  that  experienced  the  effects  of  his  severity. 
He  laid  it  entirely  waste  wi^^h  fire  and  sword.  Those 
who  \\ere  taken  prisoners  were  either  hung  or  sent 
away  with  their  hands  cutoff,  in  order  to  intimidate 
their  countrymen.  The  provinces  of  Puren,  Ilicura 
and  Tucapel  would  ha^c  shared  the  same  fate,  if  the 
inhabitants  had  not  secured  themselves  by  flight  be- 
fore the  arrival  of  the  enemy,  after  setting  on  fire  their 
houses  and  their  crops.  In  the  last  province  they 
took  only  three  of  the  inhabitants  prisoners,  who 
were    impaled.     Notwithstanding  their  severities  a 


199 

number  of  mustees  and  mulattoes  joined  the  Aran- 
canians,  and  cvlmi  some  Spaniards,  among  wlioiii 
was  Juan  Sanchez,  who  acquired  great  reputation. 

The  Araucanian  general,  impelled  either  by  his 
natural  audacity,  or  by  despair,  on  finding  himself 
fallen  in  the  estimation  of  the  native  inhabitants,  op- 
posed on  the  confines  of  the  province  of  Araucothe 
whole  Spanish  army  with  only  eight  hundred  men. 
They  nevertheless  fought  v/ith  such  resolution  that 
the  Spaniards  were  not  able  to  break  them  till  af- 
ter an  obstinate  contest  of  several  hours,  in  which 
they  lost  a  considerable  number  of  men.  Almost  all 
the  Araucanians  were  slain,  Payneaancu  himself 
WHS  taken  prisoner,  and  immediately  executed.  The 
victorious  governor  then  rebuilt  the  fortress  of  Arau- 
co,  appointing  the  quarter- master  Garcia  Ramon  to 
command  it,  and  encamped  on  the  shore  of  the  ri- 
ver Carampangui. 

The  Araucanian  valour  which  had  been  depressed 
by  the  imprudent  conduct  of  the  mustee  general, 
was  excited  anew  by  the  elevation  to  that  dignity,  in 
1585,  of  Cayancaru,  one  of  their  own  countrymen, 
and  Ulmen  of  the  district  of  Mariguenu.  One  hun- 
dred and  fifty  messengers,  furnished  with  symbolical 
arrows,  were  immediately  dispatched  to  various 
quarters  in  search  of  aid.  Every  thing  was  put  in 
motion,  and  in  a  short  time  a  respectable  army  was 
assembled.  The  new  Toqui  determined  to  attack 
at  midnight  the  Spanish  camp,  which  still  occupied 
the  post  of  Carampangui,  of  whose  exact  situation 
he  was  informed  by  mearis  of  a  spy.  For  this  pur- 
pose he  formed  his  army  into  three  divisions,  and 


200 

gave  die  coiiiinand  oí'  them  to  three  valiant  ofíicers, 
Lonçoncbal,  Antulevu,  and  Tarochina. 

These  divisions  proceeded  by  three  roads  that  led 
to  the  camp,  and  cnt  in  pieces  the  auxiharies,  who 
were  the  first  to  oppose  their  progress.  Fortunately 
for  tlic  Spaniards,  the  moon,  at  the  moment  of  the 
assauk,  enabled  them  after  a  short  period  of  confu- 
sion, in  which  they  lost  several  of  their  men,  to  form  j| 
themselves  and  make  head  against  their  assailants, 
who,  galled  upon  all  sides  by  the  musketry,  began 
at  length  to  give  ^vay.  The  governor  at  the  same 
time,  charging  them  with  his  band  of  veterans,  suc- 
ceeded in  repulsing  them,  though  not  without  great 
loss  on  both  sides. 

Cayancura,  who  had  halted  at  the  entrance  of  the 
Spanish  camp,  in  order  to  support  the  attack,  find- 
ing his  troops  retiring  exhausted  and  fatigued,  per- 
mitted them  to  rest  the  remainder  of  the  night,  and 
at  day  break  returned  to  the  attack.  The  Spaniards 
came  out  to  meet  them  in  the  open  field,  and  most 
obstinate  and  bloody  was  the  battle  that  ensued. 
But,  overpowered  by  the  horse  and  artillery,  the 
Araucanians.were  finally  compelled  to  quit  the  field. 
The  authors  whom  I  have  consulted  satisfy  them- 
selves with  observing  that  the  victory  cost  the  Spa- 
niards dear,  without  specifying  the  number  of  the 
slain.  The  governor  himself  calls  it  a  bloody  one  in 
his  patent  to  Nugno  Hernandez.  The  greatest  proof 
of  his  loss  is  that  immediately  after  the  action,  he 
raised  his  cam.p,  and  retired  to  the  frontiers,  where 
he builttwo forts,  that  of  Triaidad  upon  the  southern, 
and  Spirito  Santo   upon  the  northern  shore  of  tht 


âoi 

Bio-bio.  He  also  sent  orders  to  the  sergeant-major 
to  raise  as  many  recruits  as  possible  throughout  the 
kingdom,  who,  in  consequence,  brought  him  two  thou- 
sand horse,  and  a  considerable  number  of  infantry. 

Notwithstanding  his  losses,  the  Araucanian  ge- 
neral resolved  to  take  advantage  of  the  retreat  of  the 
governor  to  attack  the  fort  of  Arauco.     In  order  to 
render  more  secure  the  success  of  the  enterprise,  he 
endeavoured  to  divert  the  Spanish  forces  in  every 
quarter.    For  this  purpose  he  ordered  Guepotan,to 
make  incursions  into  the  territory  of  Villarica  from 
the  fort  of  Liben,  where  he  had  supported  himself  for 
several  years.  To  Cadiguala,  Avho  was  afterwards  in- 
vested with  the  supreme  command,  he  gave  charge  to 
harrass  the  inhabitants  of  Angol  ;  and  appointed  Ta- 
rochina  to  guard  the  shores  of  the  'Bio- bio  ;  while 
Melilanca   and  Catipillan  were  sent  against  Impe- 
rial.   These  officers  had  several  encounters  with  the 
Spaniards,  attended  with  various  success.  Guepotan 
lost  the  fort  of  Liben,  which  was  taken  by  the  bro- 
ther of  the  governor,  while  Tarochina  made  himself 
master  of  a  great  number  of  boats  on  the  Bio- bio, 
that  were  conducting  supplies  of  men  and  warlike 
stores  to  the  forts  newly  erected  upon  that  river. 

In  1586  Cayancura  began  his  intended  siege,  by 
surrounding  the  place  with  strong  lines,  so  as  not 
only  to  interi^ept  all  succours,  but  also  to  prevent  the 
retreat  of  the  garrison.  From  these  preparations 
the  besieged  perceiving  that  they  must  finally  be 
compelled  to  surrender  or  perish  with  hunger, 
thought  it  better  to  die  with  arms  in  their  hands 
than  to  be  reduced  to  this  extremity  ;  they  therefore 
Vol.  it.  C  c 


202 

attacked  the  enemy's  works  with  such  vigour,  that 
after  a  dreadful  combat  of  about  four  hours,  they 
forced  them,  and  put  the  Araucanians  to  flight.  Ca- 
yancura,  extremely  mortified  at  the  ill  success  of  his 
enterprise,  retired  to  his  Ulmenate,  leaving  the  com- 
mand of  the  army  to  his  son  Nangoniel,  a  youth  of 
great  hopes,  and  much  beloved  by  the  nation. 

The  young  commander  immediately  collected 
some  companies  of  infantry  and  a  hundred  and  fifty 
horse,  which  from  hence  forward  began  to  form  a 
part  of  the  Araucanian  force,  and  returned  to  invest 
the  same  fortress,  whose  environs  he  so  closely 
guarded,  that  the  Spaniards,  unable  to  procure  a 
supply  of  provisions,  were  at  length  compelled  to 
evacuate  it.  Encouraged  by  this  good  fortune,  he 
proceeded  against  the  fort  of  Trinidad  which  protect- 
ed the  passage  of  the  enemy's  supplies  by  the  Bio- 
bio  ;  but  having  fallen  in  on  the  road  with  a  divi- 
sion of  Spanish  troops,  under  the  command  of  Fran- 
cisco Hernandez,  he  lost  an  arm  in  the  contest,  af- 
ter having  received  several  other  dangerous  wounds. 
This  misfortune  obliged  him  to  retire  to  a  neigh- 
bouring mountain,  where  he  was  drawn  into  an  am- 
bush by  the  sergeant-major,  and  slain  with  fifty  of 
his  soldiers,  notwithstanding  the  great  valour  with 
which  they  defended  themselves  for  a  long  time. 
The  same  day  Cadeguala,  who  had  obtained  great 
reputation  in  the  army  for  his  courage  and  military 
skijl,  was  proclaimed  Toqui  by  his  officers. 

Whilst  the  Araucanians  endeavoured  to  oppose 
the  progress  of  the  Spariiards  in  their  country,  the 
English  also  planned  an  expedition  against  them  in 


205 

that  remote  quarter.  On  the  21st  of  July,  1586, 
Sir  Thomub  Caveiidish  sailed  with  three  ships  from 
Plymouth,  and  in  the  following  year  arrived  on  the 
coast  of  Chili.  He  landed  in  the  desert  port  of  Quin- 
tero, and  endeavoured  to  enter  into  a  négociation 
with  the  natives  of  the  country.  But  his  stay  there 
was  but  of  short  continuance  ;  he  was  attacked  by 
Alonzo  Molina,  the  Corregidor  of  Santiago,  and 
compelled  to  quit  the  coast  with  the  loss  of  several 
of  his  soldiers  and  seamen. 

In  the  mean  time  Cadeguala,  who  had  signalized 
the  beginning  of  his  command  by  several  bold  in- 
cursions, resolved  to  avail  himself  of  this  timely  di- 
version to  surprise  the  city  of  Angol,  with  some  of 
whose  inhabitants  he  maintained  a  secret  intelligence. 
By  means  of  these  agents  he  prevailed  upon  those 
Chilians  who  were  in  the  service  of  the  Spaniards  to 
set  fire  to  the  houses  of  their  masters  at  a  certain 
hour  of  the  night,  when  he  would  be  ready  with  his 
army  at  the  gates.  The  plan  being  accordingly  exe- 
cuted, he  entered  the  city  amidst  the  confusion, 
occupied  the  several  quarters  of  it  with  a  thousand 
foot  and  a  hundred  horse,  and  began  to  make  a  dread- 
ful slaughter  of  the  citizens  who,  in  flying  from  the 
flames,  fell  into  his  hands.  The  garrison  in  vain  at- 
tempted to  oppose  his  progress  ;  nor  would  any  have 
escaped  the  sword  on  that  fatal  night,  had  not  by 
good  fortune  the  governor  accidentally  arrived  there 
two  hours  before  the  attack.  He  immediately  hasten- 
ed at  the  head  of  his  guard  to  the  different  places 
that  were  attacked,  and  with  wonderful  presence  of 
mind  collected  the  dispersed  inhabitants,  and  con^ 


204 

ducted  them  to  the  citadel.  From  thence  he  sallied 
out  with  the  most  determined  of  them,  and  attacked 
the  enemy,  whom  he  obliged  to  retire  at  day  break. 
The  Araucanians  had  become  much  less  scrupulous 
than  formerly  in  their  mode  of  making  war,  for  Ca- 
deguala  was  not  abandoned  by  any  of  his  officers  on 
this  occasion,  as  Caupolican  had  been  at  Cañete  in 
his  fraudful  surprise  of  that  city. 

Although  this  daring  enterprise  had  not  been  ac- 
companied with  the  success  which  the  Araucanian 
general  expected,  yet,  far  from  being  discouraged 
by  it,  he  undertook  the  siege  of  the  fortress  of  Puren, 
which  from  its  interior  situation  appeared  more  easy 
to  be  taken.  He  invested  it  regularly  with  four  thou- 
sand men  in  four  divisions,  under  the  command  of 
Guanalcoa,  Caniotaru,  Relmuantu,  and  Curilemu, 
the  most  valiant  officers  of  his  army.  The  governor, 
on  receiving  information  of  the  danger  of  the  place, 
hastened  to  relieve  it  with  a  strong  reinforcement, 
but  Cadeguaja  advanced  to  meet  him  with  a  hun- 
dred and  fifty  lances,  and  opposed  him  with  such 
vigour,  that  after  a  long  combat,  in  which  several 
were  killed,  he  compelled  him  to  retreat. 

Elated  with  this  success,  he  proposed  to  the  be- 
sieged, either  to  allow  them  to  retire  upon  parole,  or 
enter  his  service.  These  terms,  which  he  pretended 
to  consider  as  advantageous,  were  rejected  with  dis- 
dain. One  person  alone,  called  Juan  Tapia,  availed 
himself  of  the  proffer,  and  went  over  to  the  Arau- 
canians, by  whom  he  was  well  received,  and  advanc- 
ed in  their  army.  This  plan  proving  abortive,  Cade- 
guala  determined  to  shorten  the  siege  by  a  decisive 


205 

blow.  He  presented  himself  before  the  walls  on  a 
superb  horse  which  he  had  taken  from  the  governor, 
and  defied  the  commander  of  the  place,  Garcia  Ra- 
mon, to  single  combat  at  the  end  of  three  days.  The 
challenge  being  accepted,  the  intrepid  Toqui  ap- 
peared at  the  time  appointed  in  the  field,  with  a  small 
number  of  attendants,  whom  he  placed  apart.  The 
Spanish  commander  came  out  to  meet  him  with 
forty  men,  whom  he  likewise  ordered  to  remain  at  a 
distance.  The  two  champions  then  putting  spurs  to 
their  horses,  encountered  with  such  fury,  that  the 
first  stroke  decided  the  battle,  Cadeguala  falling  to 
the'ground,  pierced  through  and  through  by  the  lance 
of  his  adversary  ;  notwithstanding  which,  refusing 
to  acknowledge  himself  vanquished,  he  endeavoured 
to  remount  his  horse,  but  life  failed  him  in  the  at- 
tempt. His  soldiers  ran  to  raise  him,  and  carried  off 
the  body,  after  a  sharp  contest  with  the  Spaniards. 
The  army  then  retired  from  the  place,  determined  to 
return  when  they  had  elected  a  new  chief. 


206 


CHAPTER  V. 


The   Toqui  Guanoalca   takes   the  Forts  of  PureUj 
Trmidady    and  Spirito  Santo  ;    Exploits    of    the 
Heroine  Janequeo  ;  Battles  of  Mariguenu  and  Tu-    ). 
capel. 

THE  Arancanians  soon  returned  to  besiege  the 
fort  of  Puren  under  their  new  Toqui  Guanoalca, 
who,  being  informed  by  Tapia  that  the  garrison 
was  but  ill  supplied  with  provisions,  and  divided 
into  two  parties,  had  formed  the  most  sanguine  ex- 
pectations of  taking  it.  The  result  proved  that  he 
calculated  correctly  ;  as  the  besieged,  cut  off  from 
all  external  succour,  and  dissatisfied  with  the  con- 
duct of  their  officers,  were  not  long  in  retiring  to  the 
city  of  Angol  ;  the  Araucanians  with  their  usual 
policy,  leaving  the  passage  free,  nor  endeavouring 
to  molest  them  in  their  retreat. 

Guanoalca  immediately  after  marched  against  ano- 
ther fort  which  the  Spaniards  had  a  little  before  con- 
structed in  the  vicinity  of  Mount  Mariguenu  ;  but 
a  considerable  reinforcement  having  entered  it  short- 
ly before,  he  resolved  to  employ  his  forces  in  ano- 
ther quarter  where  the  prospect  of  success  appeared 
more  flattering.  With  this  view  he  proceeded  against 
the  forts  of  Trinidad  and  Spirito  Santo,  upon  the 
shores  of  the  Bio- bio.  The  governor,  apprehensive 
that  he  should  not  be  able  to  defend  them,  or  not 


207 

considerin.^theaias  of  sufficient  importance,  evacuat- 
ed them  in  1589,  and  transferred  the  garrison  to  ano- 
ther fortress,  which  he  had  directed  to  be  built  upon 
the  river  Puchanqui,  in  order  to  protect  the  city  of 
Angol  :  So  that  the  war  now  became  in  a  great  mea- 
sure reduced  to  the  construction  and  demohtion  of 
fortifications. 

The  dictatorship  of  Guanoalca  was  rendered  more 
remarkable  by  the  military  exploits  of  the  heroine 
Janequeo  than  by  his  own.  This  woman  was  the 
wife  of  thatvaliant  officer  Guepotan,  who  for  so  long 
a  time  defended  the  post  of  Liben.  After  the  loss 
of  that  important  place  he  retired  to  the  Andes, 
w^here  he  constantly  endeavoured  to  stimulate  those 
mountaineers  to  tlie  defence  of  the  country.  Desi- 
rous of  having  his  wife  with  him,  he  at  length  de- 
scended into  the  plains  in  search  of  her,  but  was 
surprised  by  the  Spaniards,  who  were  very  solicitous 
to  get  him  into  their  hands,  and  preferred  being 
cut  in  pieces  to  surrendering  himself  prisoner.  Jane- 
queo, inflamed  with  an  ardent  desire  of  avenging 
the  death  of  her  husband,  in  company  with  her  bro- 
ther Guechiuntereo,  placed  herself  at  the  head  of  an 
army  of  Puelches,  with  which,  in  1590,  she  began 
to  make  inroads  upon  the  Spanish  settlements,  kill- 
ing all  of  that  nation  that  fell  into  her  hands.  The 
governor,  reinforced  by  a  regiment  of  soldiers, 
which  he  had  received  from  Peru,  set  out  upon  his 
march  against  her  ;  but  she,  constantly  occupying 
the  highest  ground,  and  attacking  unexpectedly, 
sometimes  the  van,  and  at  others  the  rear  of  his  ar- 
my, obliged  him  to  retire,  after  having  lost,   to  no 


208 

purpose,  much  time  and  a  considerable  number  of 
men.  As  he  was  of  opinion  that  rigorous  measures 
were  the  best  suited  to  quell  the  pride  of  the  Arauca- 
nians,  he  gave  orders,  before  his  retreat,  that  all  the 
prisoners  taken  in  this  incursion  should  be  hung  ; 
Among  tliese  was  one  who  requested  to  be  hung 
upon  the  highest  tree,  in  order  that  the  sacrifice  which 
he  made  of  himself  to  his  country,  should  be  more 
conspicuous  to  his  countrymen,  and  inspire  them 
with  a  stronger  determination  to  defend  their  liberties. 

Janequeo  having  defended  herself  thus  success- 
fully against  a  general,  who  was  unquestionably 
a  good  soldier,  and  had  gained  a  high  reputation 
in  the  wars  of  Italy,  Germany  and  Flanders,  pro- 
ceeded against  the  fortress  of  Puchanqui,  not  far 
from  which  she  defeated  and  killed  Aranda,  the  com- 
mander, who  had  advanced  to  meet  her  with  a  part 
of  the  garrison.  But  not  having  been  able  to  take 
the  fort,  she  retired  at  the  commencement  of  the 
rainy  season  to  the  mountains  of  Villarica,  where 
she  fortified  herself  in  a  place  surrounded  by  preci- 
pices, which  she  deemed  perfectly  secure  ;  from 
whence  she  daily  infested  the  environs  of  that  city  in 
such  a  manner  that  no  one  ventured  to  leave  it. 

The  governor,  moved  by  the  complaints  of  the 
citizens,  sent  his  brother  Don  Louis  to  their  aid, 
w  ith  the  greater  part  of  two  reinforcements  that  he 
had  lately  received  from  Peru,  under  the  command 
of  Castillejo  and  Penalosa.  The  intrepid  Janequeo 
awaited  him  valiantly  in  her  retreat,  repelling  with 
great  presence  of  mind  the  various  assaults  of  the 
Spaniards  ;   until  her  soldiers  being  dispersed  by 


209 

the  artillery,  she  saw  herself  obliged  to  provide 
for  her  safety  by  flight.  Her  brother  was  taken  in 
attempting  to  escape,  and  obtained  his  life  from  the 
victors  on  condition  of  promising  on  oath  to  keep 
his  sister  quiet,  and  securing  to  them  the  friendship 
of  his  vassals  and  adherents  ;  but  while  this  proposal 
was  debated  in  a  national  council,  he  was  killed  by 
the  Ulmen  Catipiuque,  who  abhorred  any  kind  of 
reconciliation. 

The  old  Toqui  Guanoalca  died  at  the  close  of 
this  year,  and  in  1591,  Quintuguenu,  an  enterpris- 
ing young  man,  and  ambitious  of  glory,  was  ap- 
pointed his  successor.  Having  taken  by  assault  the 
fort  of  Mariguenu,  he  encamped  with  two  thousand 
men  upon  the  top  of  that  mountain,  hoping,  by  some 
important  victory,  to  render  himself  as  celebrated 
there  as  Lautaro.  The  governor,  undaunted  by  the 
recollection  of  the  misfortunes  that  had  befallen  his 
countrymen  in  that  ill-omened  place,  put  him- 
self at  the  head  of  one  thousand  Spaniards  and  a 
large  number  of  auxiliaries,  and  immediately  march- 
ed thither,  "resolving  to  dislodge  the  enemy,  or  at 
least  to  keep  them  besieged. 

After  having  given  the  necessary  orders,  he  began 
at  day  break  to  defile  the  difficult  ascent  of  the  moun- 
tain, leading  the  advanced  guard  in  person,  in  front 
of  which  he  had  placed  twenty  half-pay  officers,  well 
experienced  in  this  kind  of  war.  Scarcely  had  he 
ascended  half  way,  when  he  was  attacked  with  such 
fury  by  Quintuguenu,  that  a  general  of  less  talents 
would  have  been  driven  headlong  down  with  all  his 
troops  ;  but,  animating  his  men  by  hi«  voice  and  ex- 

Vol.  II.  Dd 


210 

ample,  he  sustained  for  more  than  an  hour  the  ter- 
rible  encounter  of  the  enemy,  till  having  gained  step 
by  step  the  level  ground,  he  succeeded  in  forcing 
them  into  their  intrenchments,  without  however  be- 
ing able  to  break  their  order. 

The  Araucanians,  mutually  exhorting  each  other 
to  die  with  glory,  defended  their  camp  until  mid- 
day with  incredible  valour,  when  Don  Carlos  Irra- 
zabul,  after  an  obstinate  resistance,  finally  forced  Ú¡& 
lines  on  the  left  with  his  company.  At  the  same 
time  the  quarter-master  and  Don  Rodolphus  Lis- 
perger,  a  valiant  German  officer,  penetrated  with 
their  brigades  in  front  and  on  the  right.  Quintu- 
guenu,  although  surrounded  on  every  side,  render- 
ed for  a  long  time  the  event  of  the  battle  doubtful. 
He  maintained  his  troops  in  good  order,  and  con- 
jured them  not  to  dishonour  by  an  ignoKiinious  de- 
feat a  place  that  had  so  often  witnessed  the  victories 
of  their  ancestors.  Whilst  he  flew  from  rank  to  rank 
animating  his  men,  and  constantly  confronting  the 
enemy,  he  fell,  pierced  with  three  mortal  wounds 
by  the  governor,  who  had  singled  him  out  and  taken 
aim  at  him.  The  last  word  he  uttered  was  an 
enthusiastic  exclamation  of  liberty. 

On  seeing  him  dead,  a  part  ©f  his  soldiers  in  des- 
pair suffered  themselves  to  b«  cut  iji  pieces,  and  the 
rest  bwLook  themselves  to  flight.  Almost  all  the 
auxiliaries  were  slain,  but  of  the  Spaniards  it  is  said 
that  only  twenty  fell  in  the  battle  ;  of  which  number 
wa»  a  Portuguese  knight  of  the  order  of  Christ,  who 
was  slain  in  the  beginning  of  the  conflict. 


211 

The  governor,  highly  gratified  with  being  the  first 
conqueror  of  the  Araucanians  on  tlie  formidable 
Mariguenu,  conducted  his  army  to  the  s,ea  shore, 
where  he  was  saluted  with  repeated  discharges  of 
cannon  from  the  Peruvian  fleet,  which,  in  scouring 
the  coast  in  search  of  the  English,  had  witnessed  the 
victory.  These  demonstrations  of  general  joy  were 
answered  on  the  part  of  the  army  by  frequent  vol- 
leys of  musketry,  and  the  customary  military  rejoic- 
ings. Availing  himself  of  this  opportunity,  the  go- 
vernor  sent  the  quarter- master  to  Peru,  on  the  re- 
turn of  the  fleet,  in  order  to  obtain  the  greatest  pos- 
sible reinforcement  of  troops  to  prosecute  the  war 
the  ensuing  campaign. 

In  the  mean  time  he  abandoned  the  ancient  situa- 
tion of  the  fortress  of  Arauco,  and  rebuilt  it  in  ano- 
ther more  convenient  upon  the  sea  shore,  where,  in 
case  of  need,  it  could  be  more  readily  succoured. 
Colocólo  was  lord  of  this  district  ;  he  was  son  to  the 
celebrated  Ulmen  of  that  name,  but  of  a  disposition 
very  different  from  that  of  his  father.  Indignant  on 
seeing  his  lands  occupied  by  the  enemy,  he  endea- 
voured to  drive  them  off",  but  being  defeated  and 
made  prisoner,  he  solicited  and  obtained  his  life,  on 
condition  of  persuading  his  subjects,  who  had  retired 
to  the  mountains,  to  submit  to  the  Spanish  govern- 
ment. These,  on  being  urged  by  his  wife  Millayenc 
to  fulfil  the  promise  of  their  chief,  replied,  that  as 
his  present  misfortunes  had  been  caused  by  love  of 
his  country,  so  ought  he  to  endure  them  with  a  firm- 
ness worthy  of  his  birth  ;  that,    stimulated  by   h,is 


212 

example,  tliej'-  would  confront  all  dangers  to  defend 
him,  and  to  revenge  the  outrages  which  he  might 
suffer.  The  prince,  irritated  by  this  reply,  devoted 
himself  to  the  service  of  the  Spaniards,  and  served 
them  as  a  guide  in  the  pursuit  of  his  people. 

At  this  period,  1592,  there  was  among  the  Arau- 
canians  a  Spaniard  who  had  been  made  prisoner  in 
one  of  the  former  battles,  and  who  by  his  ingratiating 
manners  had  obtained  the  esteem  and  confidence  of 
the  principal  men  of  the  nation.  This  man,  either 
from  gratitude  for  the  treatment  he  had  received,  or 
at  the  instigation  of  the  governor,  applied  himself  to 
eíFect  a  treaty  of  peace  with  great  hopes  of  success, 
bpt  the  preliminary  conditions  proposed  by  him  not 
proving  agreeable  to  either  of  the  parties,  all  his  en- 
deavours were  inefiectual.  The  governor,  irritated 
at  the  ill  success  of  his  proposals  set  out  on  his 
march  with  all  his  army,  for  the  province  of  Tucapel, 
laying  waste  with  fire  and  sword  all  that  fell  in  his 
way. 

Paillaeco,  who  had  been  elected  Toqui  in  place 
of  Quintuguenu,  thinking  himself  not  sufficiently 
strong  to  oppose  the  enemy  openly,  resolved  to  draw 
them  into  an  ambuscade.  For"  this  purpose  he  pla- 
ced a  hundred  men  on  horseback  at  the  entrance  of  a 
wood,  witiiin  which  he  had  concealed  the  remainder 
of  his  forces,  with  orders  for  them  to  counterfeit 
flight  on  the  appearance  of  the  enemy.  This  scheme 
at  first  promised  success  ;  the  Spaniards  pursued 
them,  but  discovering  in  time  that  it  was  only  a  strat- 
agem, they  turned  back  and  pretended  to  fly  them- 


213 

selves,  in  order  to  induce  their  enemies  to  quit  the 
wood  and  attack  them  in  the  open  field.  The  Arau- 
canians,  not  aware  of  the  trick,  ran  into  the  snare, 
and  being  surrounded  upon  every  side,  were  almost 
all  cut  to  pieces,  together  with  their  commander,  af- 
ter having  sold  their  lives  very  dearly.  The  re- 
mainder took  refuge  in  the  marshes,  where  they  se- 
cured themselves  from  the  fury  of  tlie  victors. 

These  repeated  victories,  the  cause  of  such  exulta- 
tion to  the  Spaniards,  were  but  the  preludes  of  the 
severest  disasters  that  they  had  ever  experienced  in 
Chili.  It  will,  nevertheless,  scarcely  admit  of  a  doubt 
that  they  must  have  cost  much  blood,  since  the  go- 
vernor, contrary  to  his  custom,  withdrew  to  Santiago 
after  the  last  action,  with  the  intention  of  awaitini^- 
there  the  reinforcements  which  he  expected  from 
Peru,  and  to  raise  as  many  recruits  as  possible  in 
the  northern  provinces  of  the  country.  The  rein- 
forcements were  not  long  in  arriving,  but  as  they  ap- 
peared to  him  insufficient  to  continue  the  war  with 
advantage,  he  determined  to  go  to  Peru  in  person  to 
solicit  more  considerable  succours,  committing  in 
the  mean  time  the  command  of  the  army  to  the  quar- 
ter-master,  and  the  civil  government  to  the  licentiate 
Pedro  Viscarra.  On  his  arrival  at  Lima  he  met  with 
his  successor  in  the  government,  who  had  been  ap- 
pointed by  the  court  of  Spain.  This  was  Don  Martin 
Loyola,  nephew  of  St.  Ignatius,*  an  officer  of  merit, 
who  had  acquired  the  favour  of  the  viceroy  Toledo, 
by  taking  Tupac  Amaru,  the  last  Inca  of  Peru,  in 

*  The  celebrated  founder  of  the  order  of  the  Jesuit». 


214 

tiie  mountains  of  the  Andes.  This  service  not  only 
obtained  him  the  government  of  Chili,  but  also  the 
princess  Clara  Beatrix  Coya  in  marriage,  the  only 
daughter  and  heiress  of  the  Inca  Sayri  Tupac.  He 
arrived  at  Valparaiso  in  1593,  with  a  respectable 
body  of  troops,  and  immediately  proceeded  to  San- 
tiago, where  he  was  received  with  every  testimony  of 
joy  by  the  citizens. 


'^^■9-^C    ii'i." 


CHAPTER  VI. 


The  Toqui  Paillamachii  kills  Loyola  the  Govertwr, 
and  destroys  all  the  Spanish  Settlements  in  Arau- 
cania. 

After  the  death  of  Paillaeco,  the  Araucanians  ap- 
pointed to  the  chief  command  the  hereditary  Toqui 
of  the  second  Uthalmapu,  called  Paillamachu,  a  man 
of  a  very  advanced  age,  but  of  wonderful  activity. 
Fortune,  commonly  supposed  not  to  be  propitious 
to  the  old,  so  far  favoured  his  enterprtees,  that  he 
surpassed  all  his  predecessors  in  military  glory,  and 
had  the  singular  felicity  of  restoring  his  country  to 
its  ancient  state  of  independence.  No  sooner  was 
he  invested  with  the  supreme  power,  than  he  appoint- 


215 

ed  Pelantaru  and  Millacalquin,  two  officers  not  infe- 
rior to  himself  in  merit,  to  the  important  charge  of 
Vice  Toqui,  deviating  in  this  instance  from  the 
established  custom,  which  allowed  only  one  lieute- 
nant to  the  general.  As  the  Araucanian  force  was, 
however, -greatly  diminished,  he  imitated  the  example 
of  Antiguenu,  and  withdrew  to  the  marshes  of 
Lumaco,  where  he  applied  himself  to  form  an  army 
capable  of  executing  his  extensive  plans. 

Loyola,  after  having  regulated  the  police  of  the 
capital,  proceeded  to  Conception  in  order  to  attend 
to  the  business  of  the  war.  Paillamachu  took  ad- 
vantage of  this  opportunity  to  send  an  officer,  under 
pretence  of  complimenting  him,  to  obtain  informa- 
tion of  his  character  and  designs.  Antipillan,  who 
was  charged  with  this  commission,  showed  himself 
worthy  of  the  trust  reposed  in  him  by  the  general. 
In  the  frequent  conferences  which  the  governor  held 
with  him,  he  endeavoured  to  impress  him  with  an 
idea  of  the  great  power  and  immense  resources  of 
his  sovereign,  insinuating  a  necessity  of  the  Arauca- 
nians  coming  to  an  accommodation.  The  ambassa- 
dor, pretending  to  be  convinced  by  his  reasonings, 
replied  :  "  We  are  not  ignorant  of  the  power  of  your 
prince,  which  extends  from  the  east  to  the  west. 
But  we  are  not  to  be  despised,  for  although  we  are 
but  a  small  people,  we  have  nevertheless  hitherto 
resisted  his  immense  power.  Your  ideas  respecting 
peace  are  very  different  from  ours.  By  peace  we 
understand  an  entire  cessation  of  hostilities,  which 
is  to  be  followed  by  a  complete  renunciation  on  your 
part  of  any  pretended  right  of  controul  over  us,  and 


216 

the  restoration  of  all  those  lands  which  yci  have  oc- 
cupied in  our  territories.  You,  on  the  contrary,  un- 
der that  name,  seek  to  subject  us,  to  which  we  will 
never  consent  while  we  have  a  drop  of  blood  left  in 
our  veins." 

As  the  governor  was  of  a  generous  disposition,  he 
could  not  but  admire  the  noble  sentiments  of  Anti- 
pillan,  and  dismissed  him  wûththe  strongest  demon- 
strations of  esteem.  But  far  from  abandoning  the 
posts  established  in  the  Araucanian  territory,  he  pass- 
ed the  Bio-bio  in  1594,  and  founded  a  new  city  ata 
little  distance  from  that  river,  to  which  he  gave  the 
name  of  Coya,  in  honour  of  the  princess  his  wife. 
This  he  intended  not  only  as  a  place  of  retreat  for  the 
inhabitants  of  Angol,  which  was  in  the  vicinity,  but 
also  to  protect  the  rich  gold  mines  of  Kilacoyan. 
He  established  therein  a  munici[,al  magistracy,  and 
adorned  it  with  several  churches  and  monasteries, 
and  in  order  to  render  it  more  secure,  constructed 
two  castles  in  front  of  it,  called  Jesus  and  Chivecura, 
which  protected  both  shores  of  the  river. 

Paillamachu,  solicitous  of  destroying  this  rising 
establishment,  which  reflected  dishonour  upon  his 
command,  in  1595  gave  orders  to  Loncothequa,  one 
of  his  captains,  to  take  the  fort  of  Jesus.  This  offi- 
cer, -  after  having  burned  one  part  of  it,  and  twice 
penetrated  into  the  other,  was  killed  before  he  com- 
pleted the  enterprise.  The  Araucanian  general  be- 
gan at  length  in  1596  to  harrass  with  frequent  in- 
cursions the  Spanish  districts,  both  to  subsist  his 
troops  and  habituate  them  to  a  military  life.  The 
Spanish  army  in  vain  Avent  in  pursuit  of  him  ;  he 


217 

always  took  care  to  avoid  it,  resolving  to  reserve  his 
force  for  a  more  favourable  occasion. 

Finding  no  other  means  to  restrain  him,  Loyola 
erected  in  the  neighbourhood  of  his  encampment 
two  forts,  one  upon  the  ancient  site  of  that  of  Puren, 
and  the  other  on  the  very  borders  of  the  marshes  of 
Lumaco.  These  he  garrisoned  with  the  greater  part 
of  a  reinforcement  of  troops  which  at  that  time  he 
received  from  Peru,  and  sent  the  remainder,  in  1597, 
to  found  an  establishment  in  the  province  of  Cujo, 
under  the  name  of  St.  Louis  de  Loyola,  which  still 
exists,  although  in  a  miserable  condition,  notwith- 
standing the  advantages  of  its  situation. 

Paillamachu  soon  took  by  storm  the  fortress  of 
Lumaco,  and  gave  the  charge  o^  reducing  that  of 
Puren  to  Pelantaru  and  Millacalquin.  Having  in  ten 
days  reduced  the  garrison  to  extremity,  these  offi- 
cers, agreeably  to  the  instructions  of  their  general, 
retired  on  the  arrival  of  a  reinforcement  of  Spaniards 
under  the  command  of  Pedro  Cortez,  who  had  ob- 
tained great  reputation  in  that  war.  The  governor, 
nevertheless,  shortly  after  arriving  there  with  the 
rest  of  the  army,  ordered  the  fortifications  to  be 
demolished,  and  the  garrison  to  be  transferred  to 
Angol,  fearing  to  expose  it  to  the  fate  of  that  of  Lu- 
maco. He  then  proceeded  to  Imperial,  to  secure 
that  city  in  the  best  possible  manner  against  the 
increasing  strength  of  the  enemy. 

After  having  repaired  the  fortifications  of  Impe- 
rial,  and  also  those  of  Villarica  and  Valdivia,   he 
returned  to  the  Bio-bio   under  an   escort  of  three 
.hundred   men,   whom   he   ordered    back   as   soon 
Vol.  II.  E  e 


218 

áb  he  thought  himself  in  a  place  of  security,  retain- 
ing with  him,  besides  his  own  family,  only  sixty 
half-pay  oincers  and  three  Franciscan  friars.  Pail- 
iamachu,  who  had  secretly  watched  his  motions, 
and  followed  him  with  two  hundred  soldiers,  con- 
ceived this  a  favourable  opportunity  to  put  his  de- 
signs in  execution.  Accordingly  finding  him  en- 
camped in  the  pleasant  valley  of  Caralava,  he  fell 
upon  him,  while  he  was  asleep  on  the  night  of  the 
2.2(1  of  November  1598,  and  killed  him  with  all 
his  retinue.  It  would  seem  that  the  Araucaniaii 
general  had  formed  confident  hopes  of  the  success 
of  this  bold  enterprise,  since,  in  consequence  of  his 
previous  instructions,  in  less  than  forty-eight  hours 
after  this  event,  not  only  the  Araucanian  provinces 
but  those  of  the  Cundiese  and  Huilliches  were  in 
arms,  and  the  whole  of  the  country  to  the  Archipe- 
lago of  Chiloe.  Every  Spaniard  who  had  the  mis- 
fortune of  being  found  without  the  garrisons  w^as 
put  to  death;  and  the  cities  of  Osorno,  Valdivia,  Vil- 
larica,  Imperial,  Cañete,  Angol,  Coya,  and  the  for- 
tress of  Arauco,  were  all  at  once  invested  with  a 
close  siege.  Not  content  with  this,  Paillamachu, 
without  loss  of  time,  crossed  the  Bio-bio,  burned  the 
<:ities  of  Conception  and  Chilian,  laid  waste  the 
provinces  in  their  dependence,  and  returned  loaded 
with  spoil  to  his  country. 

On  the  first  receipt  of  this  melancholy  news  at  the 
capital,  the  inhabitants,  filled  with  consternation, 
abandoned  themselves  to  despair,  and  agreed  with 
one  voice  to  quit  the  country  and  retire  to  Peru. 
As  they  liad,  however,  some  confidence  in  Pedro 


219 

de  Viscarra,  they  assembled  in  council,  and  obli- 
ged him  to  take  upon  himself  the  government,  till 
the  court,  on  being  made  acquainted  with  the  death 
of  Loyola,  should  appoint  some  other.  This  offi- 
cer, who  was  more  than  seventy  years  old,  began 
his  march  for  the  frontiers  in  1599,  with  all  the 
troops  that  he  could  raise,  and  had  the  courage  to 
cross  the  Bio-bio,  and  in  the  face  of  the  besieging 
enemy,  withdraw  the  inhabitants  from  An  gol  and 
Coya,  with  whom  he  repeopled  the  cities  of  Con- 
ception and  Chilian.  But  his  government  con- 
tinued only  six  months  ;  for  the  viceroy  of  Pe- 
ru, on  being  informed  of  the  perilous  situation  of 
Chili,  sent  Don  Francisco  Quiñones  thither  as  gov- 
ernor, with  a  numerous  reinforcement,  of  soldiers 
and  a  large  supply  of  military  stores.  This  com- 
mander had  several  actions  with  Paillamachu  on 
the  northern  shore  of  the  Bio-bio,  whither  the  Arau  • 
canians  had  gone  with  an  intention  of  laying  under 
contribution,  or  of  ravaging  the  Spanish  provinces  ; 
but  none  of  them  were  decisive.  The  most  cele- 
brated was  that  of  the  plains  of  YumbeL  The  en- 
terprising Toqui  being  on  his  return,  at  the  head  of 
two  thousand  men,  with  a  great  number  of  animals 
which  he  had  taken  from  the  district  of  Chilian, 
Quiñones  attempted  to  cut  oft'  his  retreat  with  an 
equal  number,  the  most  of  whom  were  Europeans. 
The  two  armies  advanced  with  equal  resolution. 
The  Spaniards  in  vain  attempted  to  keep  the  ene- 
my at  a  distance  by  a  constant  fire  from  eight  field 
pieces  and  all  their  musketry.  They  very  soon 
came  to  close  quarters,  and  the  battle  was  continu- 


220 

ed  with  incredible  fury  for  more  than  two  hours, 
till  night  parted  the  combatants,  and  Paillamachu, 
availing  himself  of  the  obscurity,  repassed  the  Bio- 
bio.  The  accounts  from  whence  our  information  is 
deri\'ed  merely  state  in  general  terms  that  a  great 
number  of  the  Araucanians  were  slain,  and  not  a 
few  of  the  Spaniards.  The  governor  upon  this  oc- 
casion made  a  úseles  display  of  severity,  by  order- 
ing the  prisoners  to  be  quartered  and  hung  upon  the 
trees  ;  a  proceeding  highly  disapproved  by  the  most 
prudent  of  his  officers,  who,  from  motives  of  human- 
ity or  self-interest,  advised  him  not  to  furnish  the 
enemy  with  a  pretext  for  retaliation.  But  his  ad- 
lierence  to  the  old  maxim,  of  conquering  by  means 
of  terror,  rendered  him  deaf  to  their  remonstrances. 
The  consequence  of  this  engagement  was  the  eva- 
cuation of  the  fort  of  Arauco  and  the  city  of  Cañete, 
the  inhabitants  of  which  retired  to  Conception. 

In  the  mean  time  Paillamachu  was  in  constant 
motion  ;  sometimes  encouraging  by  his  presence 
the  forces  that  besieged  the  cities,  at  others  rav- 
ciging  the  Spanish  provinces  beyond  the  Bio-bio, 
to  the  great  injury  of  the  inhabitants.  Having 
learned,  that  the  siege  of  Valdivia  had  been  raised, 
he  secretly  hastened  thither  with  a  body  of  four  thou- 
sand men,  consisting  of  infantry  and  horse,  among 
whom  were  seventy  armed  with  arquebuses,  taken 
in  the  last  engagements  from  the  Spaniards.  On 
the  night  of  the  14th  of  November  he  passed  the 
broad  river  Calacalla  or  Valdivia  by  swimming, 
stormed  the  city,  at  day  break,  burned  the  houses, 
killed  a  great  number  of  the  inhabitants,  and  attacked 


221 

the  vessels  at  anchor  in  the  harbour,  on  board  of 
which  many  had  taken  refuge,  who  only  effected  their 
escape  by  immediately  setting  sail.  After  this  he 
returned  in  triumph  to  join  Millacalquin,  to  whom 
he  had  entrusted  the  guard  of  the  Bio-bio,  with  a 
booty  of  two  million  of  dollars,  all  the  cannon,  and 
upwards  of  four  hundred  prisoners. 

Ten  days  after  the  destruction  of  Valdivia,  Col. 
Francisco  Cam.po  arrived  there  from  Peru  with  a 
reinforcement  of  three  hundred  men,  but  finding  it 
in  ashes,  he  endeavoured,  though  ineffectually,  to  in- 
troduce those  succours  into  the  cities  of  Osorno, 
Villarica  and  Imperial.  Amidst  so  many  misfor- 
tunes, an  expedition  of  five  ships  of  war  from  Holland 
arrived  in  1600  upon  the  coast  of  Chili,  which  plun- 
dered the  island  of  Chiloe,  and  put  the  Spanish  gar- 
rison to  the  sword.  Nevertheless,  the  crew  of  the 
commodore  having  landed  in  the  little  islandof  Talca, 
or  Santa  Maria,  was  repulsed  with  the  loss  of  twenty- 
three  of  their  men  by  the  Araucanians  who  dwelt 
there,  and  who  probubly  supposed  them  to  be  Span- 
iards. 

Quiñones,  disgusted  with  a  war  which  was  fur 
from  promising  a  foi túnate  issue,  solicited  and  ob- 
tained  his  dismission  from  the  government.  He  was 
succeeded  by  the  old  quarter-master,  Garcia  Ra- 
mon, of  whom  much  was  expected  from  his  expe- 
rience and  long  acquaintance  with  the  enemy.  But 
that  very  knowledge  induced  him  to  act  on  the  de- 
fensive, rather  tnan  haza  xl  that  part  of  the  kingdom 
which  was  still  subject  to  Spain,  although  he  had  re- 
ceived a  regiment  of  select  troops  from  Lisbon,  un- 

der  the  roîiim-inil  nf  Don  FraTirisrn  CívaWp    f^thor  tn 


222 

the  historian  of  that  name.  His  goverinncnt  was, 
however,  but  of  short  duration.  Alonzo  Rivera, 
an  officer  who  had  rendered  himself  famous  in  the 
wars  of  the  Low  Countries,  was  sent  out  by  the  kipg 
as  governor  in  his  pîace,  with  a  regiment  of  veterans. 
On  assuming  his  office,  he  fortified  with  strong  fort? 
the  shores  of  the  Bio-bio,  and  greatly  encouraged  the 
inhabitants,  who  had  not  yet  relinquished  -he  idea 
of  quitting  Chili. 

After  a  siege  of  two  years  and  eleven  months, 
Villarica,  a  very  populous  and  opulent  city,  fell  at 
length,  in  1692,  into  the  hands  of  the  Araucanians, 
A  similar  fate,  after  a  short  interval,  was  experienced 
by  Imperial,  the  metropolis  of  the  southern  colonies, 
which  would  have  fallen  some  months  before,  had 
not  its  fate  been  protracted  by  the  courage  of  a  Span- 
ish heroine,  called  Ines  Aguilera.-  This  lady,  per- 
ceiving the  garrison  to  be  discouraged  and  on  the 
point  of  capitulating,  dissuaded  them  from  surren- 
dering, and  directed  all  tlie  operations  in  person,  un- 
til a  ñivourable  opportunity  presenting,  she  escaped 
by  sea  with  the  bishop  and  a  great  part  of  the  inhabi- 
tants. She  had  lost  during  the  siege  her  husband 
and  brothers,  and  her  valour  was  rewarded  by  tho 
king  with  an  annual  pension  of  two  thousand  dol- 
lars. 

Osorno,  á  city  not  less  rich  and  populous  than  the 
preceding,  was  not  able  much  longer  to  resist  the 
fate  that  awaited  it.  It  fell  under  the  violent  effiDrts 
of  the  besiegers,  who,  freed  from  their  attention  to 
the  others,  were  able  to  bring  their  whole  force 
against  it.  Thus,  in  a  period  of  little  more  than  three 


223 

years,  were  destroyed  all  the  settlements  which  Val- 
divia and  his  successors  had  established  and  pre- 
served, at  the  expense  of  so  much  blood,  in  the  ex- 
tensive country  between  the  Bio-bio  and  the  Archi- 
pelago of  Chiloe,  none  of  which  have  been  since  re- 
built, as  what  is  at  present  called  Valdivia  is  no  more 
than  a  fort  or  garrison. 

The  sufferings  of  the  besieged  were  great,  nor 
can  they  scarcely  be  exceeded  by  those  endured  in 
the  most  celebrated  sieges  recorded  in  histoiy. 
They  were  compelled  to  subsist  on  the  most  loath- 
some food,  and  a  piece  of  boiled  leather  was  consider- 
ed as  a  sumptuous  repast  by  the  voluptuous  inhabi- 
tants of  Villarica  and  Osorno.  The  cities  that  were 
taken  were  destroyed  in  such  a  manner  that  at  pre* 
sent  few  vestiges  of  them  remain,  and  those  ruins 
are  regarded  by  the  natives  as  objects  of  detestation. 
Although  great  numbers  of  the  citizens  perished  in 
the  defence  of  their  walls,  the  prisoners  of  all  ranks 
and  sexes  were  so  numerous,  that  there  was  scarcely 
an  Araucanian  family  who  had  not  one  to  its  share. 
The  women  were  taken  into  the  seraglios  of  their 
conquerors.  Husbands  were,  however,  permitted 
for  the  most  part  to  retain  their  wives,  and  the  un- 
married to  espouse  the  women  of  the  country  ;  and 
it  is  not  a  little  remarkable  that  the  mustees,  or  off- 
spring of  these  singular  marriages,  became  in  the 
subsequent  wars  the  most  terrible  enemies  of  the 
Spanish  name. 

The  ransom  and  exchange  of  prisoners  was  also 
permitted.  By  this  means  many  escaped  from  cap- 
tivity.    Some,  however,  induced  by  the  love  of  their 


224 

chiidren,  preferred  to  remain  with  their  captors 
during  their  hves  ;  others,  who  acquired  their 
affection  by  their  pleasing  manners,  or  their  skill 
in  the  arts,  established  themselves  advantageously  in 
the  country.  Among  the  latter  were  Don  Basilio 
Roxas  and  Don  Antonio  Bascugnan,  both  of  noble 
birth,  who  acquired  high  reputation  among  the  na- 
tives, and  have  left  interesting  memoirs  of  the 
transactions  of  their  own  times.  But  those  who  fell 
into  brutal  hands  had  much  to  suffer.  Paillamachu 
did  not  long  enjoy  the  applause  of  his  countrymen  ; 
he  died  at  the  end  of  the  year  1603,  and  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Hunecura,  his  pupil  in  the  school  of  Lu- 
maço. 


V 


225 


CHAPTER  VII. 


COMPRISING    A    PERIOD    OF    THIRTEEN    YEARS, 
FROM    1604   TO    1617. 


Second  unfortunate  Government  of  Garcia  Ramon  ; 
Restoration  of  the  Court  of  Royal  Audience  ;  In- 
effectual Négociation  for  Peace. 

WHILST  Alonzo  Rivera  was  wholly  intent  upon 
checking  the  progress  of  the  victorious  Araucanians, 
he  was  removed  from  the  government  of  Chili  to 
that  of  Tucuman,  in  consequence  of  having  married 
the  daughter  of  the  celebrated  Aguilera  without  ob- 
taining the  royal  permission.  Garcia  Ramon,  his 
predecessor,  was  appointed  to  succeed  him,  and  re- 
ceived,  at  the  same  time  with  his  commission,  a 
thousand  soldiers  from  Europe,  and  two  hundred  and 
fifty  from  Mexico.  As  he  was  now  at  the  head  of 
an  army  of  three  thousand  regular  troops,  besides 
auxiliaries,  he  returned  to  invade  the  Araucanian 
territories,  and  penetrated  ^vithout  much  opposi- 
tion as  far  as  the  province  of  Boroa,  v/here  he 
erected  a  fort,  which  he  furnished  with  a  good  num- 
ber of  cannon,  and  a  garrison  of  three  hundred  men, 
under  the  command  of  Lisperger. 
Vol.  il  F  f  . 


226 

Huenecura  waited  till  the  retreat  of  the  army  to  at- 
tack this  new  establishment.  On  his  march  thither 
he  fell  in  with  the  commander  Lisperger,  who  had  left 
the  fort  with  one  hundred  and  sixty  of  his  soldiers  in 
order  to  protect  a  convoy,  and  cut  in  pieces  the  whole 
detachment.  Ke  then  proceeded  to  the  attack  of  the 
fort,  which  he  assailed  three  times  with  great  fury. 
The  battle  was  continued  with  the  utmost  obstinacy 
for  the  space  of  two  hours,  but  Egidius  Negrete, 
who  succeeded  to  the  command  in  place  of  Lisper- 
ger, manifested  in  the  defence  so  much  valour  and 
military  skill,  that  the  Araucanian  general  found 
himself  under  the  necessity  of  converting  the  storm 
into  a  blockade,  which  was  continued  until  the  go- 
vernor gave  orders  for  the  garrison  to  evacuate  the 
place. 

After  this  the  Spanish  army  proceeded  to  lay 
waste  the  enemy's  country.  For  this  purpose  it  was 
separated  into  two  divisions,  one  under  the  command 
of  the  quarter-master,  Alvaro  Pineda,  and  the  other 
under  that  of  Don  Diego  Saravia.  Huenecura,  how- 
ever, watching  his  opportunity,  attacked  and  defeat- 
ed them  one  after  the  other,  and  so  compleat  was 
the  rout,  that  there  was  not  a  single  person  who  es- 
caped death  or  captivity.  Thus  in  a  short  time 
was  that  army,  on  v/hich  such  flattering  hopes  had 
been  founded,  wholly  dispersed.  In  consequence  of 
these  disasters,  in  1608,  the  court  of  Spain  issued 
orders,  that  hereafter  there  should  constantly  be 
maintained  on  the  Araucanian  frontier  a  body  of  two 
thousand  regular  troops,  for  whose  support  an  ap- 
propriation of  292,279  dollars  annually  was  made  in 
the  treasury  of  Peru. 


227 

After  having  been  suppressed  for  thirty-four  year^, 
the  Court  of  Royal  Audience  was  re-estaljlished  on 
the  8th  of  September,  1609,  in  the  city  of  St.  Jago, 
to  the  great  satisfaction  of  the  inhabitants,  since 
which  period  it  has  continued  to  exist  with  a  high 
reputation  for  justice  and  integrity.  Ramon,  who, 
by  this  new  regulation,  to  the  titles  of  governor  and 
captain-general,  had  added  that  of  president,  return- 
ed and  crossed  the  Bio- bio  at  the  head  of  an  army 
of  about  two  thousand  men.  Huenecura  advanced 
to  meet  him  in  the  defiles  of  the  marshes  of  Lu- 
maco.  The  battle  was  obstinate  and  bloody,  and 
the  Spaniards  were  in  great  danger  of  beÍKg  entirely 
defeated  ;  but  the  governor,  placing  himself  in  the 
front  line,  animateclMiis  troops  so  far  that  they  at 
length  succeeded  in  breaking  the  enem}'.  Shortly 
after  this  battle,  on  the  10th  of  August,  lolO,  he 
died  in  Conception,  greatly  regretted  by  the  in- 
habitants, to  whom  he  was  much  endeared  by  his 
excellent  qualities  and  his  long  residence  among 
them.  He  was  also  highly  esteemed  by  the  Aran- 
canians,  whom  he  always  treated,  when  prisoners, 
with  particular  attention,  and  a  humanity  that  did 
him  honour  in  that  age. 

According  to  the  royal  decree  establishing  the 
Court  of  Audience,  the  govemnient  now  devolved 
upon  the  eldest  of  the  auditors,  Dun  Louis  Mcrio  de 
la  Fuente. 

About  the  same  time  either  from  disease,  or  in 
consequence  of  a  woui)d  that  he  received  in  the  last 
battle,  died  the  Toqui  Huenecura.  His  successor 
was  Aiilavilu  the  Second,   whom   Don  Basilio  dç 


228 

Roxas,  a  contemporary  writer,  represents  as  one  of 
the  greatest  of  the  Araucanian  generals,  and  that  he 
fought  many  battles  with  Merlo,  and  his  successor 
Don  Juan  Xaraquemada  ;  but  he  neither  mentions 
the  places  where  they  were  fought,  nor  any  particu- 
lars respecting  them. 

Among  the  missionaries  at  that  time  charged  with 
the  conversion  of  the  Chilians,  there  was  a  Jesuit 
called  Louis  Valdivia,  who,  perceiving  that  it  was 
impossible  to  preach  to  the  Araucanians  during  the 
tumult  of  arms,  went  to  Spain,  and  represented  in 
the  strongest  terms  to  Philip  the  Third,  who  was 
then  on  th©  throne,  the  great  injury  done  to  the  cause 
of  religion  by  the  continuance  of  the  war.  That  de- 
vout prince,  who  had  more  allheart  the  advance- 
ment of  religion  than  the  augmentation  of  his  terri- 
tories, sent  orders  immediately  to  the  government  of 
Chili  to  discontinue  the  war,  and  settle  a  permanent 
peace  with  the  Araucanians,  by  establishing  the  river 
Bio- bio  as  the  line  of  division  between  the  two  na- 
tions. With  a  view  to  insure  the  more  punctual  ex- 
ecution of  his  orders,  he  also  determined  to  exalt  the 
zealous  missionary  to  the  episcopal  dignity,  and  com- 
mit to  him  the  charge  of  the  government  of  Chili  ; 
but  Valdivia  refused  to  accept  of  any  thing  except 
the  privilege  of  nominating  in  his  place  a  governor 
whose  views  were  in  conformity  to  his  own.  This 
was  no  other  than  Alonzo  Rivera,  who,  as  we  have 
already  observed,  had  been  exiled  to  Tucuman. 

Satisfied  with  the  prosperous  issue  of  his  voyage, 
Valdivia  returned  to  Chili  in  1612,  with  a  letter  from 
the  king  himself  to  the  Araucanian  congress,  rcla^ 


229 

live  to  the  establishment  of  peace  and  the  promotion 
of  religion.  Immediately  on  his  arrival  he  hastened 
to  the  frontiers,  and  communicated  to  the  Arauca- 
nians  by  means  of  some  prisoners  whom  he  brought 
with  him  from  Peru,  the  commission  with  which  he 
was  intrusted  by  the  court.  Aillavilu,  who  at  that 
time  held  the  chief  command,  paid  little  attention  to 
this  information,  considering  it  as  merely  a  story  in- 
vented for  the  purpose  of  deceiving  and  surprising 
him  ;  but  he  soon  after  dying  or  resigning  his 
office,  his  successor  Ancanamon  thought  proper  to 
inquire  into  the  truth  of  the  report.  With  this 
view  he  directed  the  Ulmen  Carampangui  to  con- 
verse with  Valdivia,  and  learn  his  proposals  in  an 
assembly  of  the  Ulmenes. 

The  missionary,  on  being  invited  by  that  officer, 
repaired  under  the  protection  of  the  Ulmen  Lanca- 
milla  to  Nancu,  the  principal  place  in  the  province  of 
Catiray,  where,  in  the  presence  of  fifty  of  those 
chiefs,  he  made  known  his  business  and  the  substance 
of  his  négociation,  read  the  royal  dispatches,  and  en- 
tered into  a  long  explanation  of  the  motives  of  his 
voyage,  which  concerned  the  general  good  of  their 
souls.  The  assembly  thanked  him  for  his  exertions, 
and  promised  to  make  a  favourable  report  to  the 
general. 

Carampangui  insisted  on  accompanying  Valdivia 
to  Conception,  where  he  met  with  the  governor, 
who  dispatched  the  letter  of  the  king  to  Ancana- 
mon by  Pedro  Melendez,  one  of  his  ensigns,  with 
a  request  that  he  would  come  to  Paicavi,  in  or- 
der to  confer  with  him  upon  the  preliminaries  of  the 


230 

peace.  The  Toqui  was  not  long  in  repairing  to  the 
pLTce  appointed,  with  a  small  guard  of  forty  soldiers 
and  several  Ulmenes.  In  his  train  were  also  a  num- 
ber of  Spanish  prisoners  of  the  fjrst  families,  to 
whom  he  had  given  their  liberty.  The  governor, 
Valdivia,  and  the  principal  officers  of  the  govern- 
ment  came  out  to  receive  him,  and  conducted  him 
to  his  lodgings  under  the  discharge  of  artillery. 
They  then  proceeded  to  discuss  the  articles  of  peace, 
which  were,  that  the  river  Bio-bio  should  serve  as 
a  barrier  to  both  nations,  so  that  neither  should  be 
permitted  to  pass  it  with  an  army  ;  that  all  deserters 
in  future  should  be  mutually  returned,  and  that  the- 
missionaries  should  be  perniitted  to  preach  the  doc- 
trines of  Christianity  in  the  Araucanian  territories. 

The  Araucanian  general  required  as  a  preliminary 
the  evacuation  of  the  forts  of  Paicavi  and  Arauco, 
which  had  been  lately  erected  upon  the  sea- coast. 
The  governor  abandoned  the  first,  and  agreed  im- 
mediately on  the  conclusion  of  peace  to  quit  the 
other.  As  the  consent  of  the  chiefs  of  the  four 
Uthalmapus  was  however  requisite  to  ratify  the 
treaty,  Ancanamon  proposed  to  go  and  seek  them 
in  person,  and  bring  them  to  the  Spanish  camp. 

The  négociation  was  in  this  state  of  forwardness, 
when  an  unexpected  event  rendered  abortive  all  the 
mieasures  that  had  been  taken.  Among  the  wives 
of  Ancanamon  was  a  Spanish  lady,  Avho,  taking  ad- 
vantage of  Itis  absence,  fied  for  refuge  to  the  go- 
vernor, with  two  small  children,  and  four  Avomcn, 
whom  she  had  persuaded  to  become  christians,  two 
of  whom  uere  the  wives,  and  the  others  the  daugh» 


231 

ters  of  her  hiisband.  The  indignation  of  the  Toqui 
on  this  occasion  was  extreme)  though  he  was  much 
less  exasperated  at  the  flight  of  his  wives,  than  the 
kind  reception  which  they  had  experienced  from  the 
Spaniards.  As  soon  as  he  obtained  information  of 
it  he  rehnquished  every  thought  of  peace,  and  re- 
turned buck  to  demand  them  of  the  governor.  His 
claim  Mas  taken  into  consideration  ;  but  a  majori- 
ty of  the  officers,  mimy  of  v/hom  were  opposed  to  a 
peace  from  the  advantage  which  they  derived  from 
the  prisoners,  refused  to  surrender  the  women  to 
the  Toqui,  assigning  as  a  reason  their  unwilling- 
ness to  expose  them  to  the  danger  of  abandoning  the 
faith  which  they  had  embraced.  After  many  inef- 
fectual propositions,  Ancanamon,  notwithstanding 
his  resentment,  was  reduced  to  solicit  merely  the 
restoration  of  his  daughters,  whom  he  tenderly  loved. 
He  was  answered,  that  as  tlie  eldest  had  not  yet 
been  converted  to  the  christian  faith,  his  request, 
as  respected  her,  would  be  complied  with,  but 
that  they  could  not  so  readily  grant  it  in  the  case  of 
the  second,  who  had  already  been  baptised. 

While  affairs  were  in  this  critical  state,  another 
character  appeared  upon  the  stage,  who  revived  the 
almost  extinguished  hopes  of  the  desired  accom- 
modation. Utaflame,  Arch-Ulmen  of  llicura,  had 
ever  been  the  most  inveterate  enemy  of  the  Spanish 
name  ;  and  in  order  to  avoid  all  kind  of  commerce 
with  the  enemy,  had  constantly  refused  to  ransom 
his  sons  or  relations  who  were  prisoners.  He  prided 
himself  on  having  opposed  with  success  all  the  go- 
vernors of  Chili,  from  the  elder  Villagran  to  Rivera  ; 


232 

nor  had  the  Spaniards  ever  been  able  to  obtain  a  foot- 
ing in  his  province,  though  it  was  situated  in  the 
neighbourhood  of  Imperial.  Valdivia  having  at  this 
time  sent  back  one  of  his  sons,  who  had  been  taken 
in  the  late  war,  he  was  so  highly  -gratified  that  he 
came  in  person  to  visit  him  at  the  fort  of  Arauco  ; 
and  in  return  for  the  civilities  that  he  experienced 
from  him  and  the  governor,  offered  to  receive  the 
missionaries  in  his  province,  and  to  persuade  Ancana- 
mon  to  make  peace  with  the  Spaniards.  He  observ- 
ed, however,  that  it  would  be  necessary  in  the  first 
pjace  to  return  him  his  women,  which  could  be  done 
without  exposing  them  to  any  danger,  by  first  ob- 
taining from  him  a  pass  of  safe  conduct  in  their  fa- 
vour :  this  was  also  the  opinion  of  Valdivia.  Uti- 
flame  took  upon  himself  the  management  of  the  bu- 
siness, and  departed,  taking  with  him  three  mission- 
aries, Horatio  Vecchio,  of  Sienna,  cousin  to  Pope 
Alexander  VH.  Martin  Aranda,  a  native  of  Chili, 
and  Diego  Montalban,  a  Mexican,  the  friends  and 
companions  of  his  benefactor  Valdivia. 

No  sooner  had  the  exasperated  Toqui  learned  the 
arrival  of  the  missionaries  at  Ilicura,  than  he  hasten- 
ed thither  with  two  hundred  horse,  and  without 
deigning  to  listen  to  their  arguments,  slew  them  all, 
with  their  conductor  Utiflame,  who  endeavoured  to 
defend  them.  Thus  were  all  the  plans  of  pacifica- 
tion rendered  abortive.  Valdivia  in  vain  attempted 
several  times  to  revive  the  négociation.  The  officers 
and  soldiers  who  were  interested  in  the  continuance 
of  the  war,  disconcerted  all  his  schemes,  and  loudly 


233 

demanded  Vengeance  for  the  blood  of  the  priests 
who  were  slain.  The  governor,  notwithstanding 
his  pacific  wishes,  found  himself  compelled  to  yield 
to  their  demands,  and  the  war,  contrary  to  the  pious 
intentions  of  the  king,  was  recommenced  with  great- 
er fury  than  before.  Ancanamon,  on  his  part,  eagerly 
desirous  of  revenging  the  aifront  he  had  received, 
incessantly  harrassed  the  Spanish  provinces.  His 
successor,  Loncothegua^  continued  hostilities  with 
equal  obstinacy.  Ovalle,  a  contemporary  writer, 
observes,  that  he  fought  several  bloody  battles  with 
the  governor  and  his  subaltern  officers,  but  has 
given  only  an  imperfect  account  of  them.  In  1617 
Rivera  died  in  Conception,  having  appointed  the 
eldest  Auditor,  Fernando  Talaverano,  as  his  succes- 
sor, who  after  a  government  of  ten  months  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Lope  de  Ulloa. 


Vol.  Tl.  G  s* 


254 


CHAPTER  VIÎÎ. 


COMPRISES    A    PERIOD    OF    FOURTEEN    YEARS, 
FROM    1618    TO    1632. 


Daring  Enterprises  of  the   Toquis  Lientiir  and 
Piifapichion. 

LONCOTHEGUA  having;  resigned,  the  chief 
command  of  the  Araucanian  armies  was  conferred 
upon  Lientur.  The  military  expeditions  of  this  Toqui 
were  always  so  rapid  and  unexpected,  that  the  Spa- 
niards gave  him  the  appellation  of  the  wizard.  He 
appointed  Le  vipillan  his  lieutenant-general,  by  whom 
he  was  perfectly  seconded  in  the  execution  of  all 
his  designs.  Notwithstanding  the  Bio-bio  was  lined 
with  centinels  and  fortresses,  he  always  contrived 
some  means  of  passing  and  repassing  it  without  ex- 
periencing any  loss.  His  first  enterprise  was  the  cap- 
ture of  four  hundred  horses  intended  to  remount  the 
Spanish  cavalry.  He  next  ravaged  the  province  of 
Chilian,  and  the  Corregidor  having  marched  to  meet 
him,  he  entirely  defeated  and  slev/  him,  together 
with  two  of  his  sons,  and  several  of  the  magistrates 
of  the  city. 

Five  days  after  this  action  he  proceeded  towards 
St.  Philip  of  Austria,  or  Yumbel,  with  six  hundred 


235 

infantry  and  four  hundred  horse,  whom  he  sent  out 
in  several  divisions  to  ravage  the  country  in  the  vi 
cinity,  leaving  only  two  hundred  to  guard  the  nar- 
row pass  of  the  Congrejeras.  Rebolledo,  the  com- 
mander of  the  place,  provoked  at  his  temerity,  dis- 
patched seventy  horse  to  take  possession  of  the  above 
mentioned  defile  and  cut  ofl^  his  retreat,  but  they 
were  received  with  such  braver}^  by  the  troops  of 
Lientur,  that  they  were  compelled  to  retire  for  secu- 
rity to  a  hill,  after  having  lost  eighteen  of  their  num- 
ber, with  their  captain.  Rebolledo  sent  to  their  as- 
sistance three  companies  of  infantry,  and  the  re- 
mainder of  the  cavalry.  Lientur,  who  by  this  time 
had  arrived  with  all  his  army,  immediately  formed 
his  troops  in  battle  array,  fell  upon  the  Spaniards, 
notwithstanding  the  continual  fire  of  their  musketr}^ 
and  at  the  first  encounter  put  the  cavalry  to  flight. 
The  infantry,  being  thus  left  exposed,  were  almost 
all  cut  in  pieces  ;  but  thirty-six  prisoners  were  ta- 
ken by  the  victors,  who  Mere  distributed  in  the 
several  provinces  of  the  country. 

Had  Lientur  at  that  time  invested  the  place,  it 
must  inevitably  have  fallen  into  his  hands  ;  but,  for 
some  reason  which  does  not  appear,  he  deferred  the 
siege  until  the  following  year,  when  his  attempts  to 
take  it  were  rendered  ineflectual  by  the  valiant  de- 
fence of  Ximenes,  the  commander.  This  failure 
was,  however,  recompensed  by  the  capture  of  Ne- 
culguenu,  the  garrison  of  which  he  put  to  the  sword, 
and  made  prisoners  of  all  the  auxiliaries  who  dwelt 
in  the  neighbourhood.  These  successes  were  fol- 
lowed by  many  others  equally  favourable,  whence, 


236 

according  to  contemporary  writers,  who  arc  satisfied 
with  mentioning  them  in  general  terms,  he  was  con- 
sidered as  the  darhng  child  of  fortune. 

Ulloa,  more  a  victim  to  the  mortification  and  anx- 
iety caused  by  the  successes  of  Lientur  than  to 
sickness,  died  on  the  20th  of  November,  1620, 
and  was,  according  to  the  established  custom,  suc- 
ceeded by  the  eldest  of  the  auditors,  Christopher  de 
la  Cerda,  a  native  of  Mexico.  For  the  better  de- 
fence of  the  shores  of  the  Bio-bio,  he  built  there  the 
fort  which  still  goes  by  his  name  ;  he  had  also  a 
number  of  encounters  with  Lientur,  and  during  the 
short  period  of  his  government,  which  continued  but 
a  yeai-,  was  constantly  occupied  in  protecting  the 
Spanish  settlements.  His  successor,  Pedro  Sores 
Ulloa,  continued  the  war  with  similar  fortune,  until 
his  death,  which  happened  on  the  11th  of  Septem- 
ber, 1624.  He  was  succeeded  by  his  brother-in-law, 
Francisco  Alava,  who  retained  the  office  only  six 
months, 

Lientur  at  length  advanced  in  years,  and  fatigued 
with  his  continual  exertions,  resigned,  in  1625,  the 
chief  command  to  Putapichion,  a  young  m.an,  of  a 
character  for  courage  and  conduct  very  similar  to 
his  own,  who  had  passed  the  early  part  of  his  youth 
among  the  Spaniards,  asa  slave  to  one  Diego  Trux- 
illo.  The  Spaiîiards  also  possessed  at  the  same  time 
a  commander  of  uncommon  valour  and  military 
skill  :  this  was  Don  Louis  de  Cordova,  lord  of  Car- 
pió, and  nephew  to  the  viceroy  of  Peru,  by  whom 
he  was  abundantly  supplied  with  warlike  stores  and 
soldiers,  and  ordered,   in  the  name  of  the  court,  not 


Í237 

to  confine  himself  to  defensive  war,  but  to  attack  di- 
rectly the  Araucanian  territory  in  various  quarters. 

His  first  care  on  his  arrival  at  Conception  v/as  to 
introduce  a  reform  of  the  military,  and  to  pay  the 
soldiers  the  arrearages  that  were  due  them.  Those 
offices  that  were  vacant  he  conferred  on  the  Creoles, 
or  descendants  of  the  conquerors,  wlio  had  been  for 
the  most  part  neglected  ;  and  by  this  measure,  not 
onl}'^  obtained  their  esteem,  but  that  of  all  the  inhabi- 
tants. After  having  established  order  in  the  govern- 
ment, he  directed  his  cousin  Alonzo  Cordova,  whom 
he  had  appointed  quarter-master,  to  make  an  incur- 
sion with  six  hundred  men  into  the  provinces  of 
Arauco  and  Tucapel.  But  he  was  not  able  to  take 
more  than  a  hundred  and  fifteen  prisoners  of  both 
sexes,  and  a  small  number  of  cattle,  the  inhabitants 
having  taken  refuge  with  their  families  and  efiects  in 
the  mountains.  Eight  only  attempted  to  oppose  his 
march,  who  paid  with  their  lives  for  their  temerity. 

In  the  mean  time,  Putapichion  endeavoured  to 
signalize  the  commencement  of  his  command,  by 
the  capture  of  one  of  the  strongest  places  belonging 
to  the  Spaniards  on  the  Bio-bio.  This  was  the  fort 
of  Nativity,  situated  on  the  top  of  a  high  and  steep 
mountain,  well  furnished  with  soldiers  and  artillery^ 
and  both  from  its  natural  and  artificial  strength  con- 
sidered as  impregnable.  These  considerations  did 
not  at  all  discourage  the  ardent  temper  of  the  young 
general.  He  came  upon  the  fort  unexpectedly  ;  in 
a  moment  scaled  the  diificult  ascent,  possessed  him- 
self of  the  ditch,  and  set  on  fire  with  burning  arrows 
the  palisades  and  houses  of  its  defenders.     Buttljue 


238 

latter  collecting  themselves  in  the  only  bastion  that 
the  flames  had  spared,  kept  up  from  thence  so  se- 
vere a  fire  upon  the  enemy,  that  Putapichion,  de- 
spairing after  some  time  of  being  able  to  maintain 
himself  in  the  fort,  retreated,  taking  with  him  twelve 
prisoners  and  several  horses. 

From  ihence  he  crossed  the  Bio-bio,  and  attacked 
the  post  of  Quine!,  whichwas  defended  by  a  garrison 
of  six  hundred  men  ;  but  failing  also  in  tliis  at- 
tempt, he  turned  against  the  devoted  province  of 
Chilian,  from  whence  he  brought  olT  a  great  number 
of  peasants  and  of  cattle,  notwithstanding  the  exer- 
tions of  the  sergeant-major  to  stop  his  rapid  march. 
In  the  following  year,  1628,  the  governor,  eager  for 
retaliation,  determined  to  invade  the  Auraucanian 
provinces  in  three  directions  ;  to  the  quarter-master 
he  assigned  the  maritime  country,  and  to  the  sergeant- 
major  that  of  the  Andes,  reserving  the  intermediate 
for  himself.  In  pursuance  of  this  plan,  at  the  head 
of  twelve  hundred  regular  troops,  and  a  correspon- 
dent number  of  auxiliaries,  he  traversed  the  prov- 
inces of  Encol  and  Puren,  captured  a  great  number 
of  men  and  cattle,  and  having  passed  the  river 
Canten,  ravaged  in  a  similar  manner  the  rich  district 
of  Maquegua. 

Whilst  he  was  returning,  well  pleased  with  the 
success  of  his  expedition,  Putapichion  presented 
himself  with  three  thousand  men  in  order  of  battle. 
The  first  encounter  was  so  violent  that  many  of  the 
Spaniards  having  fallen,  the  rest  were  complcatly 
broken  ;  but  being  at  lengh  rallied  by  the  exertions 
of  their  \  allant  officers,  they  maintained  their  ground, 


239 

so  that  the  battle  became  more  regular  and  the 
slaughter  was  equal  on  both  sides.  Putapichion, 
however,  who  had  recovered  the  spoil  and  taken 
some  prisoners,  during  the  confusion  that  the  Spa- 
niards were  thrown  into,  thinking  it  not  prudent  to 
risk  them  on  the  event  of  a  battle,  ordered  a 
retreat. 

On  his  return  to  Conception,  the  governor  met 
with  the  Serjeant- major  and  the  quarter- master. 
The  first  had  not  been  able  to  effect  any  thing  of 
importance,  as  the  enemy  had  taken  refuge  in  the 
mountains.  The  latter  reported  that  having  taken 
two  hundred  prisoners,  and  a  booty  of  seven  thou- 
sand horses  and  a  thousand  cattle,  he  had  the  mis- 
fortune to  lose  almost  all  of  them,  in  consequence  of 
a  dreadful  tempest  that  he  met  with  on  his  return. 

In  the  mean  time,  there  arrived  in  Chili  a  new 
governor,  appointed  by  the  court  in  place  of  Cor- 
dova. This  was  Don  Francisco  Laso,  a  native  of 
St.  Andero,  an  officer  who  had  gained  much  repu- 
tation in  the  wars  of  Flanders,  where  he  had  passed 
the  principal  part  of  his  life.  He  at  first  sought  to 
come  to  an  accommodation  with  the  Araucanians, 
and  for  that  purpose  sent  home  all  the  prisoners  that 
were  in  the  garrisons,  with  particular  instructions  to 
that  effect.  But  their  minds  were  not  yet  disposed 
to  peace,  the  glory  of  establishing  it  being  reserved 
for  his  successor  ;  he,  however,  prepared  the  way 
for  it  by  his  victories,  and  by  the  ten  years  of  un- 
intermitted  war  that  he  made  upon  the  enemy,  in 
consequence  of  the  rejection  of  his  proposals. 


240 

Laso  was  not,  however,  in  the  commencement  of 
his  military  operations  highly  favoured  by  fortune. 
The  quarter-master,  Cordova,  who  was  preparing  by 
his  orders  to  invade  the  maritime  provinces  at  the 
head  of  thirteen  hundred  men,  was  completely  routed 
in  Piculguc,  a  small  district  not  far  from  the  fort  of 
Arauco.  Putapichion,  having  placed  a  part  of  his 
army  in  ambuscade,  contrived,  with  much  skill,  to 
induce  him  to  come  to  battle  in  an  unfavourable 
position.  The  Spanish  horse  which  formed  the 
advanced  guard,  not  able  to  sustain  the  shock  of  the 
Araucanian  cavalry,  which  had  at  this  time  become 
very  expert,  gave  way.  The  infantry,  being  in  con- 
sequence left  exposed  and  surrounded  upon  all  sides, 
were  wholly  destroyed  after  a  combat  of  more  than 
five  hours,  during  which  they  performed  prodigies 
of  valour  in  resisting  the  furious  assaults  of  the  ene- 
my. In  this  action  the  commander  himself  was 
slain,  with  five  captains  and  several  other  officers  of 
merit. 

As  soon  as  the  governor  was  informed  of  this  de- 
feat, he  set  out  in  person  with  a  considerable  body 
of  troops  in  search  of  Putapichion.  In  the  mean 
time,  the  latter,  mocking  the  vigilance  of  Rebolledo 
the  serjeant-major,  who  had  promised  to  prevent  his 
crossing  the  Bio-bio,  passed  that  river  with  two 
hundred  men,  and  taking  advantage  of  the  absence 
of  the  Spanish  army,  laid  waste  the  neighbouring 
provinces.  On  receiving  this  information  Laso  re- 
turned, and  immediately  occupied  with  his  troops 
all  the  known  passages  of  the  river  ;  then  taking 
with  him  a  number  of  men  equal  to  that  of  the  ene- 


241 

my,  he  went  in  pursuit  of  them  with  all  possible  ex- 
pedition. Having  arrived  at  a  place  called  Rob- 
lería, upon  the  shore  of  the  river  Itata,  he  was  at- 
tacked with  such  courage  by  the  Araucanian  gene- 
ral, that  at  the  first  encounter  the  Spaniards  gave 
way,  forty  of  them  being  slain,  ^vith  several  of  their 
officers.  The  rest  owed  their  safety  wholly  to  the 
valour  of  their  commander,  who,  with  that  cool  in- 
trepidity which  marks  a  great  character,  not  only 
rallied  and  restored  them  to  order,  but  also  enabled 
them  to  repulse  the  enemy  with  loss. 

Putapichion,  satisfied  with  his  success,  and  still 
more  with  having  taken  the  scarlet  cloak  of  the  go- 
vernor, returned  ancj  passed  the  Bio-bio  without 
being  pursued.  He  was  received  by  his  army  with 
ihe  liveliest  demonstrations  of  joy,  and  in  order  to 
gratify  them,  he  resolved  to  revive  the  almost  forgot- 
ten festival  of  the  pruloncon.  A  Spanish  soldier 
taken  in  the  preceding  battles  was  the  victim  select- 
ed for  this  barbarous  spectacle,  and  after  the  usual 
ceremonies  theUlmen  Maulican,  by  order  of  the  gen- 
eral, dispatched  him  with  a  blow  of  liis  club.  This 
cruel  action,  which  some  have  sought  to  excuse  on 
the  principle  of  retaliation,  has  dishonoured  all  the 
laurels  of  Putapichion.  The  torture  of  an  innocent 
prisoner,  upon  \vhatever  motive,  or  under  whatever 
pretext  it  is  inflicted,  is  a  crime  of  the  deepest  dye 
against  humanity.  This  cruel  amusement  was  not 
however  pleasing  to  all  the  nation.  Man/- of  the 
spectators,  as  Don  Francisco  Bascugnan,  an  eye  wit- 
ness, asserts,  compassionated  the  fate  of  the  unfor- 
tunate soldier,  and  Maulican,  to  whom  the  office  of 

Vol.  it.  H  b 


242 

dispatching  him  was  assigned  as  a  mark  of  honour, 
declared  that  he  had  consented  to  it  with  the  utmost 
reluctance,  ar.d  only  to  avoid  quarrclHng  with  his 
commander. 

The  go\eniOr  havir.g  left  to  the  quarter-master, 
Fernando  St  a,  the  charge  of  guarding  the  Bio-bio, 
with  ti.irtecn  Junidred  Spaniards  and  six  hundred 
•aaxHiaries,  withdrew  to  Santiago,  where  he  raised 
two  companies  of  inumtry  and  one  of  cavahy.  At 
the  same  time  he  received  from  Peru  five  hundred 
veteran  soldiers.  With  these  troops,  and  those 
M'hom  lie  found  upon  the  frontier,  having  formed  a 
sufficient  army,  he  proceeded  immediately  to  the  fort 
of  Arauco,  which  lie  knew  was  menaced  by  Puta- 
picliion.  That  indefatigable  general  had  indeed 
commenced  his  march  for  that  place  with  seven 
thousand  chosen  troops  whose  valour  he  thought 
nothing  was  able  to  resist.  But  intimidated  by  some 
superstitious  auguries  of  the  Ex-Toqui  Lientur, 
who  had  resolved  to  share  with  liim  the  glory  of  the 
enterprise,  the  greater  part  of  them  forsook  him  on 
the  road.  Not  discouraged  by  this  desertion,  and 
observing  that  in  war  there  could  be  no  better  omen 
than  an  eager  desire  to  conquer,  he  continued  his 
march  w^ith  thirty-two  hundred  of  the  most  deter- 
mined who  ^vere  resolved  to  follow  him,  and  en- 
camped at  a  short  distance  from  the  fort.  Some  of 
his  officers  advised  him  to  attack  it  that  same  night, 
but  he  declined  it,  as  well  for  the  purpose  of  resting 
his  troops,  as  not  to  give  the  enemy  occasion  to  re- 
proach him  with  always  taking  advantage,  like  a 
robber,  of  dwrkness  to  favour  his  operations. 


243 

Having  resolved  to  offer  him  battle  the  next  day, 
the  governor  made  his  men  prepare  themselves  i'oi' 
it  in  the  best  manner  possible,  and  that  nûght  had  a 
skirmish  with  an  advanced  party  of  the  enemy,  wiio 
had  approaehed  very  near  the  wall,  and  l)urned  the 
houses  of  the  auxiliaries.  At  day  break  he  took 
possession  with  his  army  of  the  important  post  of 
Alvarrada,  which  viv.s  flanked  by  two  deep  torrents, 
placing  the  cavalry,  commanded  by  the  quarter-mas- 
ter Sea,  on  the  riglit,  and  the  infantry,  under  the  or- 
ders of  the  sergeant-major  Rebolledo,  on  the  left. 

Putapichion  having  observed  the  movements  of 
the  Spaniards,  presented  himself  with  his  arm}'  in 
such  excellent  order,  that  the  governor  could  not 
avoid  openly  expressing  his  admiration.  The  sol- 
diers, whose  heads  were  adorned  with  beautiful  fea- 
thers, appeared  as  much  elated  as  if  goingtoa  banquet. 
The  tv/o  armies  remained  some  time  observing 
each  other,  till  at  length  Quepuantu,  the  Vice  Toqui, 
by  order  of  the  general,  gave  the  signal  of  attack. 
The  governor  then  ordered  the  cavalry  to  charge, 
but  it  was  so  severely  handled  by  the  enemy's  horse, 
that  it  took  to  flight,  and  sheltered  it-elf  in  the  rear 
of  the  army.  At  the  same  time  the  Araucanian  in- 
fantry broke  the  Spanish  lines  in  such  a  miumer, 
that  the  governor  gave  up  all  for  lost.  Fortunately 
for  him,  at  this  critical  moment  Putapichion  was 
slain.  Availing  himself  of  the  confusion  produced 
among  the  Araucanians  by  this  circumstance,  he 
rallied  his  troops,  and  charged  the  enemy  anew,  who 
were  wholly  intent  on  carrying  off  the  body  of  their 
general.    This  they  succeeded  in  effecting,  but  were 


244 

completely  routed  ;  Quepuantu  in  vain  endeavour- 
ing to  stop,  and  bring  tliem  back  to  the  charge,  kill- 
ing several  of  them  with  liis  own  hand.  Great  was 
the  slaughter  of  the  fugitives  who  were  pursued  to 
the  distance  of  six  miles  ;  of  the  Spaniards  many 
also  were  killed  ;  but  from  the  diflferent  accounts 
given  by  writers  the  number  cannot  be  ascertained. 


CHAPTER  VII. 


COMPRISI\G    A    PERIOD     OF    EIGHTT-SLVSX    TEARS, 

rR:-3i  1633  to  1720. 


Continuation  of  the  War;  Xtru:  Expedition  of  the 
Dutch  against  Chili  ;  Peace  conchded  with  the 
Araucan'tans  ;  Its  short  Duration  ;  Exploits  of  the 
Toqui  Clentaru  ;  Series  of  Spanish  Governors  to 
the  Year  1720. 

FROM  the  death  of  Putapichion  to  the  termi- 
nation of  the  government  of  Don  Francisco  Laso, 
the  Toquis  elected  by  the  Araucanians  continued 
the  war  with  more  rashness  than  good  conduct. 
None  of  them,  like  Antiguenu  or  Paillamachu,  pos- 
sessed that  coolness  requisite  to  repair  their  losses, 


245 

and  counterbalance  the  power  of  the  Spaniards. 
Quepuantu,  who  IVora  tlie  rank  of  a  subaltern  had 
been  raised  to  the  chief  command,  after  the  battle  of 
Alvarrada,  retired  to  a  \-ailcy  covered  with  thick 
woods,  where  he  erected  a  house  with  four  opposire 
doors,  in  order  to  escape  in  case  of  being  attacked. 
The  governor,  having  discovered  the  place  of  his 
retreat,  sent  the  quarter-mai;ter  Sea  to  surprise  him 
with  four  hundred  light  armed  troops.  I'htse  ar- 
riving unexpectedly,  Quepuantu  took  refuge,  as  he 
had  planned,  in  the  wood,  but  ashamed  of  his  flight, 
he  returned  with  about  fifty  men,  who  had  come  to 
his  assistance,  and  furiously  attacked  the  assailants. 
He  continued  fighting  desperately  for  half  an  hour, 
but  having  lost  almost  all  his  men,  accepted  a  chal- 
lenge from  Loncomallu,  chief  of  the  auxiliaries,  by 
whom,  after  a  long  combat,  he  was  slain. 

A  similar  fate,  in  1634,  bcfel  his  successor  and  re- 
lation Loncomilla,  in  fighting  with  a  small  number 
of  troops  against  a  strong  division  of  the  Spanish 
army.  Guenucalquin,  who  succeeded  him,  after 
having  made  some  fortunate  incursions  into  the 
Spanish  provinces,  lost  his  life  in  an  engagement 
with  six  hundred  Spaniards,  in  the  province  of  Ili- 
cura.  Curanteo,  who  was  created  Toqui  in  the 
heat  of  the  action,  had  the  srlorv  of  terminatine;  it  bv 
the  rout  of  the  enemy,  but  was  shortly  after  killed  in 
another  conflict.  Curimilla,  more  daring  than  his 
predecessors,  repeatedly  ravaged  the  provinces  to 
the  north  of  the  Bio-bio,  and  undertook  the  siege  of 
Arauco,  and  of  the  other  fortifications  on  the  fron- 
tier, but  was  finally  killed  by  Sea  in  Calcoimo. 


246 

During  the  government  of  this  Toqui,  the  Dutcli 
attempted  a  second  time  to  form  an  alliance  with  the 
Araucanians,  in  order  to  obtain  possession  of  Chili  ; 
but  this  expedition  was  not  more  fortunate  than  the 
fust. 

The  squadron,  which  consisted  of  fojir  ships,  was 
dispersed  b}'  a  stojun  on  its  arrival  on  the  coast  in 
1638.  A  boat,  well  manned  and  armed,  being  after- 
A\'ards  dispatched  to  the  island  of  Mocha,  belonging 
to  the  Araucanians,   the  inhabitants,  supposing  that 
they  came  to  attack  them,  fell  upon  the  crew,  put  the 
whole   to  death,  and  took  possession  of  the  boat. 
Another  experienced  a  similar  misfortune  in  the  lit- 
tle island  of  Talca,  or  Santa  Maria.     The  Arauca- 
jiians,  as  has  been  already  observed,  were  equally 
jealous,  and  not,  as  may   be  readily  imagined,  with- 
out reason,  of  all  the  European  nations.     Notwith- 
standing  the    ill  success  of  the  Dutch,    Sir   John 
Narborough,  an  English  naval  commander,  under- 
took some  years  after  a  similar  enterprise,   by  order 
of  his  sovereign  Chailes  the  Second;   but  in  passing 
the  streights  of  Magellan,   he  lost  his  whole  fleet, 
which  was  much   better  equipped  than  that  of  the 
Dutch. 

In  the  mean  time  the  governor,  taking  advantage 
of  the  imprudence  of  the  Araucanian  commanders, 
continued  constantly  to  la}^  waste  their  provinces.  By 
a  proclamation  he  had  at  first  directed  that  every  pri- 
soner taken  in  these  incursions,  capable  of  bearing 
arms, should  be  putto  death;  but  afterwards, actuated 
by  more  humane  sentiments,  he  ordered  that  they 
should  be  sent  to  Peru.     This  sentence  was,  howe- 


247 

ver,  more  bitter  to  them  than  death.  Whenever 
tbicy  came  in  sigl.t  of  hmd,  which  is  very  common 
(Uning  that  na\if^ation,  they  hesitated  not  to  throw 
themselves  overboard,  in  the  hope  of  escaping  by 
swimming  and  returiiing  to  their  country.  Many 
luid  the  good  fortune  to  save  themselves  in  this  man- 
ner ;  but  those  who  were  not  al)le  to  elude  the  vi- 
gilance of  the  sailors,  as  soon  as  they  were  landed 
on  the  island,  or  at  the  port  of  Callao,  exposed  them- 
selves to  every  peril  to  eflcct  their  escape  and  return 
to  their  much  loved  country,  coasting  with  incred- 
ible fatigue  tlie  immense  space  of  ocean  between 
that  port  and  the  ri\  er  Bio-bio.  Even  their  relations, 
more  solicitous  to  deliver  them  from  the  miseries  of 
exile  than  from  death  itself,  when  they  were  con- 
demned to  that  punishment,  frequently  sent  embas- 
sies to  the  governor  to  negotiate  their  ransom,  but 
he  always  refused  to  consent  to  it,  until  they  had 
laid  dow  n  their  arms  and  submitted  to  his  orders. 

Laso  had  greatly  at  heart  the  performance  of  the 
promise,  which,  like  several  of  his  predecessors,  he 
had  made  the  king,  of  putting  an  end  to  the  war. 
lie  of  course  put  in  operation,  e^ery  means  possible 
of  attaining  that  end.  Indeed,  no  one  \\as  more  ca- 
pable of  succeeding  ;  but  he  had  to  contend  with 
an  invincible  people.  Nevertheless,  he  employed 
every  measure  that  military  science  suggested  to 
him,  to  effect  their  subjugation  ;  now  endtT»vouring 
by  his  victories  to  humble  their  pride,  now  ravaging 
their  country  with  fire  and  sword,  and  now  restrain- 
ing them  by  the  construction  of  fortresses  in  diffe- 
rent places  in  their  territory.  He  also  founded  a  city 


2iS 

not  far  írum  Üie  ruins  of  Angol,  to  which  he  gave  the 
name  of  St.  Fi-ancis  de  la  Vega.  This  settlement, 
which  was  protected  by  a  garrison  of  four  companies 
of  horse  and  two  of  foot,  was  taken  and  destroyed 
by  the  Toqui  Curimilhi  the  very  year  of  its  founda- 
tion. 

A  war  so  obstinate  must  necessarily  have  caused 
the  destruction  of  a  great  number  of  men.  The  Spa- 
nibh  army  had  become  more  than  one  half  diminish- 
ed, notwithstanding  the  numerous  recruits  with 
which  it  was  annually  supplied  from  Peru.  On  this 
account  the  goveriior  sent  Don  Francisco  Avendano 
to  Spain  to  solicit  new  reinforcements,  promising  to 
bring  the  war  to  a  termination  in  the  course  of  two 
years.  But  the  court  judging  from  the  past  that  there 
was  little  reason  to  expect  so  successful  an  issue, 
appointed  him  a  successor  in  the  person  of  Don 
Francisco  Zuniga  Marquis  de  Bay  des,  who  had  given 
unquestionable  proofs  of  his  political  and  military 
talents,  both  in  Italy  and  Flanders,  where  he  had 
sustained  the  oíFicc  of  quarter-master- general. 

On  his  arrival  in  Chili  in  1740,  this  nobleman, 
either  in  consequence  of  private  instructions  from 
the  minister,  or  of  his  own  accord  had  a  per- 
sonal conference  with  Lincopichion,  to  whom  the 
Araucanians,  upon  the  death  of  Curimiila,  had  con- 
fided the  command  of  their  armies.  Fortunately, 
both  the  commanders  were  of  the  same  disposition, 
and  being  equally  averse  to  so  destructive  a  war, 
readily  agreed  upon  the  most  difficult  articles  of 
peace.  The  6th*  of  January  of  the  following  year 
was   the  áiyy  fixed  for  its  ratification,  and  the  place 


249 

of  meeting,  the  village  of  Qviillin  in  the  province 
of  Purcn. 

At  the  time  prefixed  the  Marquis  appeared  at  the 
appointed  place,  with  a  retinue  of  about  ten  thou- 
sand persons,  from  all  parts  of  the  kingdom,  who  in- 
sisted on  accompanying  him.  Lincopichion,  who 
also  came  there  at  the  head  of  the  four  hereditary 
Toquis,  and  a  great  number  of  Ulmenes  and  other 
natives,  opened  the  conference  with  a  very  eloquent 
speech.  He  then,  according  to  the  Chilian  custom, 
killed  a  camel,  and,  sprinkling  some  of  the  blood 
on  a  branch  of  cinnamon,  presented  it  in  token  of 
peace  to  the  governor.  The  articles  of  the  treaty 
were  next  proposed  and  ratified  ;  they  were  sim- 
ilar to  those  which  had  been  accepted  by  Ancana- 
mon,  except  that  the  Marquis  required  that  the 
Araucanians  should  not  permit  the  landing  of  any 
strangers  upon  their  coast,  or  furnish  supplies  to  any 
foreign  nation  whatever  ;  this  being  conformable  to 
the  political  maxims  of  the  nation,  was  readily 
granted.  Thus  was  a  period  put  to  a  war  of  ninety 
years,  and  this  grand  négociation  was  terminated  by 
the  sacrifice  of  twenty-eight  camels,  and  an  eloquent 
harangue  from  Antiguenu,  chief  of  the  district,  upon 
the  mutual  advantages  which  both  nations  would 
derive  from  the  peace.  After  this  the  two  chiefs- 
cordially  embraced,  and  congratulated  each  other  on 
the  happy  termination  of  their  exertions  ;  they  then 
dined  together,  and  made  each  other  mutual  pre- 
sents, and  the  three  days  succeeding  were  past  by 
both  nations  in  feasting  and  rejoi>«ing. 

Vol.  II.  \i 


^50 

In  consequence  of  tliis  treaty  all  the  prisoners 
were  released,  and  the  Spaniards  had  the  satisfaction 
of  receiving,  among  others,  forty-two  of  those  who 
had  been  in  captivity  since  the  time  of  Paillamachu. 
Commerce,  which  is  inseparable  from  the  good  un- 
derstanding of  nations,  was  established  between  the 
two  people  ;  the  lands  that  had  been  deserted  in  con- 
sequence of  hostile  incursions  were  repopulated,  and 
by  their  regular  produce  animated  the  industry  of 
their  undisturbed  possessors  ;  the  hopes  of  religion 
became  also  again  revived,  and  the  missionaries 
began  freely  to  exercise  their  ministry. 

Notwithstanding  these  and  other  advantages  which 
were  to  be  expected  from  the  peace,  there  were, 
amongboih  the  Araucanians  and  the  Spaniards,  some 
unquiet  tempers,  who  endeavoured  by  specious  rea- 
sons to  prevent  its  ratification.  The  first  said  that 
it  was  only  a  scheme  to  deceive  the  Araucanians,  in 
order  at  a  future  time  to  conquer  them  with  more  fa- 
cility, by  rendering  them  unaccustomed  to  the  use 
of  arms.  Those  of  the  Spaniards,  on  the  contrary, 
pretended  tobe  afraid  that,  if  peace  was  established, 
the  population  of  the  enemy  would  be  so  much  in- 
creased, that  they  would  become  sufficiently  power- 
ful to  destroy  all  the  Spanish  settlements  in  Chili. 
Of  the  latter  some  had  even  the  boldness  to  cry  "  to 
arms,"  and  endeavour  to  instigate  the  auxiliaries  to 
commence  hostilities  at  the  very  time  of  the  confer- 
ence. Butthe  Marquis,  by  justifyinghisintentions  to 
the  one,  and  reprimanding  the  other  party,  prevented 
the  renewal  of  the  war,  and  put  the  last  hand  to  his  glo- 


251 

rious  undertaking,  which  was  approved  and  ratiiied 
by  the  court. 

In  1643,  two  years  after  the  peace,  the  importance 
of  the  article  inserted  by  the  governor  in  the  treaty 
was  rendered  very  apparent  to  the  Spaniards,  by 
a  last  attempt  made  by  the  Dutch  to  possess  them- 
selves of  Chili.  Their  measures  were  so  well  ta- 
ken, that  had  they  been  in  the  least  seconded  by  the 
Araucanians,  they  must  have  infallibly  succeeded. 
Having  left  Brasil,  which  they  had  conquered,  with  a 
nuaacrous  fleet,  well  provided  with  men  and  cannon, 
tl]e^ftook  possession  of  the  harbour  of  Valdivia, 
which  had  been  deserted  for  more  than  forty  years, 
where  they  intended  to  form  an  establishment  in  or- 
der to  conquer  the  rest  of  the  kingdom.  With  this 
view  they  immediately  began  building  three  strong 
forts  at  the  entrance  of  the  river,  in  order  to  secure 
its  possession. 

The  Araucanians  were  invited,  with  the  most  flat- 
tering promises,  to  join  them  ;  this  they  not  only 
declined,  but  strictly  adhering  to  the  stipulations  of 
the  treaty,  refused  to  furnish  them  with  provisions, 
of  which  they  were  greatly  in  want.  The  Cunchcsc, 
to  whom  the  territory  which  they  had  occupied  be- 
longed, following  the  counsel  of  their  allies,  refused 
also  to  treat  with  them  or  supply  them.  In  conse- 
quence of  this  refusal,  the  Dutch,  pressed  with  hun- 
ger, and  hearing  that  a  combined  army  of  Spaniards 
and  Araucanians  were  on  their  march  against  them, 
were  compelled  to  abandon  the  place  in  three  montlis 
after  their  landing.  The  Marquis  de  Mancura,  son 
to  the  viceroy  of  Peru,   having  soon  after  arrived 


252 

there  in  search  of  them  with  ten  ships  of  war,  for- 
tified the  harbour,  and  particularly  tlie  island,  which 
has  since  borne  the  titular  name  of  his  family. 

On  the  termination  of  the  sixth  year  of  Jiis  pacific 
government,  Baydes,  was  recalled  by  the  court,  and 
Don  Martin  Muxica  appointed  in  his  place.  He 
succeeded  in  preserving  the  kinj^dom  in  that  state 
of  tranquillity  in  which  he  found  it,  no  other  com- 
motion occurrini^,  during  his  government,  but  that 
produced  by  a  violent  earthquake,  which  on  the  8th 
of  May  1647,  destroyed  part  of  the  city  of  Santiago. 
The  fortune  of  his  successor,  Don  Antonio  Acugna, 
was  very  different.  During  his  government  the 
war  was  excited  anew  between  the  Spaniards  and 
Araucanians,  but  contemporary  WTiters  have  left  us 
no  account  of  the  causes  that  produced  it. 

Clentaru,  the  hereditary  Toqui  of  Lauquemapu, 
being  in  1655  unanimously  ejected  general,  signa- 
lized his  ftrst  campaign  by  the  total  defeat  of  the 
Spanish  ai  my,  commanded  by  the  sergeant-major, 
who  fell  in  the  action,  together  with  all  his  men. 
This  victory  was  follo\ved  by  the  capture  of  the  for- 
tresses of  Arauco,  Colcura,  St.  Pedro,  Talcama- 
vida,  and  St,  Rosendo.  The  next  year  the  Arau- 
canian  general  crossed  the  Bio- bio,  compleatly  de- 
feated Acugna,  the  governor,  in  the  plains  of  Yumbel, 
destroyed  the  forts  of  St.  Christopher,  and  of  the 
Estancia  del  Rey,  and  burned  the  city  of  Chilian. 

I  regret  much  the  want  of  materials  for  this  part 
of  my  work,  as  all  the  memoirs  of  which  I  have  hi- 
therto  availed  myself  terminate  at  this  period  ; 
eu'en  the  successes  of  Clentaru  being  only  jnei> 


253 

tíoncd  incidenially.     AU  that  we  know    is,   gene- 
rally,   that   this    war    was    continued   with    great 
violence  for  a  period  of  ten  years,  under  the  go- 
vernments of  Don  Pedro  Portel  Casanate,  and  Don 
Francisco   Meneses.     The   last,   who   was  a  Por- 
tuguese by  birth,  had  the  glory  of  terminating  it  in 
1665,   by  a  peace  more  permanent  than  that  made 
by  Baydes.    But,  after  freeing  himself  of  the  Arau- 
canians,  he  had  the  misfortune  to  engage  in  a  contest 
of  a  different  kind   with  the  members  of  the  Royal 
Audience,  who  opposed  his  marrying  the  daughter  of 
the  Marquis  de  la  Pica,  as  being  contrary  to  the  royal 
decrees.     The  quarrel  was  carried  to  such  length, 
that  the  court  of  Spain  was  obliged  to  send  out  to 
Chili  the  Marquis  de  Navamorquende,   with   full 
powers  to  determine  their  diftcrence.  That  minister, 
after  due  inquiry,  sent  Meneses  to  Peru,  and  took 
possession  of  his  office.     After  him,  to  the  end  of 
the  century,  the   government  was  administered  in 
succession  by  Don  Pvliguel  Silva,  Don  Joseph  Car- 
rera,  and  Don  Thomas  Marin  de  Proveda,  all  of 
whom  appear  to  have  maintained  a  good  understand- 
ing with  the  Araucanians,  though  Garro  had  nearly 
broken  with  them,  on  occasion  of  removing  the  in- 
habitants of  the  island  of  Mocho  in  1686,  to  the 
north  shore  of  the  Bio-bio,   in  order  to  cut  off  all 
communication  with  foreign  enemies. 

The  commencement  of  the  present  era  was 
marked  in  Chili  by  the  deposition  of  the  governor 
Don  Francisco  Ibanez,  the  rebellion  of  the  inhabi- 
tants of  Chiloe,  and  the  trade  with  the  French* 
Ibanez,  like  Meneses,  was  banished  to  Peru,  for  hav- 


254 

îng,  as  is  said,  espoused  the  party  in  opposition  to 
the  house  of  Bourbon  in  the  war  of  succession.  His 
office  until  the  year  1720  was  filled  by  Don  Juan 
Henriquez,  Don  Andrew  Uztariz,  and  Don  Martin 
Concha.  The  islanders  of  Chiloe  were  soon  restor- 
ed to  obedience,  through  the  prudent  conduct  of  the 
quarter-master-general  of  the  kingdom,  Don  Pedro 
Molina,  who  was  sent  against  them  with  a  conside- 
rable body  of  troops,  but  who  succeeded  in  redu- 
cing them  rather  by  mild  measures  than  by  useless 
victories. 

The  French,  in  consequence  of  the  above  men- 
tioned  war  of  succession,  possessed  themselves  fora 
time  of  all  the  external  commerce  of  Chili.  From 
1707  to  1717  its  ports  were  filled  with  their  ships, 
and  they  carried  from  thence  incredible  sums  in 
gold  and  silver.  Many  of  them  who  became  at- 
tached to  the  country  settled  themselves  in  it,  and 
have  left  numerous  descendants.  It  was  at  this  pe- 
riod, that  the  learned  father  Feuille,  who  remained 
there  three  years,  made  his  botanical  researches  and 
meteorological  observations  upon  the  coast.  His 
amiable  qualities  obtained  him  the  esteem  of  the 
inhabitants,  who  still  cherish  his  memory  with  much 
affection. 


255 


CHAPTER  X. 


A  Brief  Account  of  the  fFar  of  the  Toquis  Vihi- 
milla  and  Curignancu  ;  Spanish  Govemoj's  to  th& 
Year  1787. 

THE  Araucanians  had  for  some  time  been  very 
much  dissatified  with  the  peace.  They  perceived  that 
it  gave  the  Spaniards  an  opportunity  of  forming  new 
establishments  in  their  country.  They  also  endured 
very  impatiently  the  insolence  of  those  who  were 
designated  by  the  title  of  Captains  of  the  Friends, 
and  who  having  been  introduced  under  pretence 
of  guarding  the  missionaries,  arrogated  to  them- 
selves a  species  of  authority  over  the  natives,  who, 
stimulated  by  resentment  for  these  grievances,  deter- 
mined, in  1722,  to  create  a  Toqui,  and  have  recourse 
to  arms. 

The  choice  fell  upon  Vilumilla,  a  man  of  low  rank, 
but  one  who  had  acquired  a  high,  reputation  for  his 
judgment,  courage  and  extensive  views.  His  object 
was  no  less  than  the  expulsion  of  the  Spaniards  from 
the  whole  of  Chili.  To  succeed  in  this  arduous  en- 
terprise, it  was  necessary  to  obtain  the  support  of  all 
the  Chilians,  from  the  confines  of  Peru  to  the  Bio- 
bio.  Vast  as  was  the  plan,  it  appeared  to  him  not  to 
be  difficult  of  execution.  Having  killed  in  a  skir- 
mish three  or  four  Spaniards,  and  among  them  one 


256 

of  the  pretended  Captains  of  Friends,  he  dispatch- 
ed, according  to  custom,  a  messenger  with  one  of 
their  fingers,  to  the  Chilians  in  the  Spanish  pro- 
vinces, inviting  them  to  take  arms  at  a  signal  to  be 
given  by  kindling  fires  upon  the  tops  of  the  highest 
mountains.  On  the  9th  of  March,  1723,  the  day 
appointed  for  the  open  declaration  of  hostilities,  fires 
were  accordingly  kindled  upon  the  mountains  of 
Copiapo,  Coquimbo,  Quillota,  Rancagua,  Maule 
and  Iiata.  Owing  to  the  smallness  of  their  numbers, 
or  their  apprehension  of  the  issue  of  the  war,  the 
natives,  however,  made  no  movement. 

Vilumilla  was,  however,  by  no  means  discou- 
raged on  seeing  his  projects  evaporate  in  smoke. 
As  coon  as  he  had  declared  war  he  set  out  immedi- 
ately at  the  head  of  his  troops  to  attack  the  Spanish 
settlements.  But  before  commencing  his  march,  he 
was  careful  to  give  information  to  the  missionaries, 
and  request  them  to  quit  the  country,  in  order  to 
avoid  being  ill  treated  by  his  detached  parties.  The 
capture  of  the  fort  of  Tucapel  was  the  first  fruit  of 
this  expedition.  The  garrison  of  Arauco,  fearing 
the  same  fate,  abandoned  the  place.  Having  destroy- 
ed these  fortresses,  he  directed  his  march  against 
that  of  Puren,  which  he  expected  to  possess  himself 
of  without  resistance.  But  Urrea,  the  commanding 
officer,  opposed  him  so  vigorously  that  he  was  com- 
pelled to  besiege  it.  In  a  short  time  the  garrison  was 
reduced  to  great  extremities  from  hunger  and  thirst, 
as  the  aqueduct  which  supplied  them  with  water 
had  been  destroyed  by  the  enemy,  and  the   com- 


257 

mander,  having  made  a  sortie  in  order  to  procure 
supplies,  was  slain  together  with  his  soldiers. 

In  this  critical  state  of  affairs,  the  governor,  Don 
Gabriel  Cano,  who  had  succeeded  Concha,  arrived 
with  an  army  of  five  thousand  men.  Vilumilla,  ex- 
pecting immediately  to  come  to  action,  posted  him- 
self behind  a  torrent,  and  drew  up  his  troops  in  or- 
der of  battle  :  but  Cano,  tliough  repeatedly  provok- 
ed by  the  enemy,  thought  it  more  advisable  to  aban- 
don the  place,  and  retire  with  the  garrison.  The  war 
afterwards  became  reduced  to  skirmishes  of  but  lit- 
tie  importance,  which  were  finally  terminated  by  the 
celebrated  peace  of  Ncgrete,  a  place  situated  at  the 
confluence  of  the  rivers  Bio-bio  and  Lara^  where 
the  treaty  of  Quillan  was  reconfirmed,  and  the 
odious  title  of  Captain  of  Friends  wholly  abolished. 

Cano,  after  a  mild  and  harmonious  government 
of  fifteen  years,  died  in  the  city  of  St.  Jago.  He 
was  succeeded  by  his  nephew,  Don  Manuel  Sala- 
manca, who  was  appointed  by  the  viceroy  of  Peru, 
and  whose  whole  conduct  was  conformable  to  the 
humane  maxims  of  his  uncle.  Don  Joseph  Manso, 
who  was  sent  from  Spain  as  his  successor,  brought 
orders  from  the  king  to  collect  the  numerous  Spa- 
nish inhabitants  dispersed  over  the  country  in  com- 
pact societies.  For  this  purpose,  in  i74á,  he  founded 
the  cities  of  Copiapo,  Aconcagua,  Melipilla,  Ranca- 
gua,  St.  Fernando,  Curico,  Talca,  Tutuben  and  An- 
geles. In  reward  for  this  service  he  was  promoted 
to  the  splendid  dignity  of  viceroy  of  Peru.     Hi» 

Vol.  it.  K  k 


258 

■successors  continued  to  form  new  establishments, 
but  these  have  never  flourished  like  the  first.  In 
1753,  Santa  Rosa,  Guasco-alto,  Casablanca,  Bella- 
Isla,  Florida,  Coulemu  and  Quirigua  were  built  by 
Don  Domingo  Rosas.  He  also  sent  inhabitants  to 
settle  the  large  island  of  Juan  Fernandez,  which  till 
that  time  had  remained  desert  to  the  great  injury  of 
commerce,  as  the  pirates  found  therein  a  secure  re- 
treat, from  whence  they  could  with  facility  attack 
the  trading  ships.  Don  Manuel  Amat,  who  was  af- 
terwards viceroy  of  Peru,  in  1729  founded  upon  the 
Araucanian  frontier  the  cities  of  St.  Barbara,  Tal- 
camavida  and  Gualqui. 

Don  Antonio  Guill  Gonzaga  attempted  under  his 
government  to  effect  more  than  his  predecessors. 
He  undertook  to  compel  the  Araucanians  to  live  in 
cities.  This  chimerical  scheme  was  ridiculed  by 
those  who  were  best  acquainted  with  the  country, 
while  others  supposed  it  practicable.  Many  coun- 
sels were  held  to  devise  the  most  suitable  means 
of  carrying  this  scheme  into  execution,  which  the 
wishes  of  the  governor  made  him  consider  as  very 
easy.  The  Araucanians  were  informed  of  all  these 
proceedings  by  their  spies,  and  apprehensive  of  the 
danger  to  which  such  an  innovation  might  expose 
their  liberties,  they  met  secretly  to  deliberate  upon 
the  measures  they  should  take  to  elude  the  designs 
of  their  neighbours  without  having  recourse  to  arms, 
when  the  following  resolutions  were  adopted  by  the 
national  council  :  In  the  first  place,  to  delay  as  long 
as  possible  the  business,  by  equivocal  replies  and 
delusive  promises.      Secondly.  When  pressed  to 


259 

commence  building,  to  require  from  the  Spaniards 
tools  and  other  necessary  aid.  Thirdly.  To  have 
recourse  to  arms  whenever  they  found  themselves 
obliged  to  begin  the  work,  but  to  conduct  in  such 
a  manner  that  only  the  provinces  that  were  com- 
pelled to  build  should  declare  war,  the  others  re- 
maining neutral  in  order  to  be  able  to  mediate  a 
peace.  Fourthly.  To  come  to  a  general  rupture 
whenever  they  found  that  the  mediation  of  the  latter 
would  not  be  accepted.  Fifthly.  To  allow  the  mis* 
sionaries  to  depart  without  injury,  as  they  had  no- 
thing to  accuse  them  with  but  of  being  Spaniards. 
Sixthly.  To  make  choice  immediately  of  a  Toqui, 
who  should  have  in  charge  to  attend  to  the  execution 
of  the  above  mentioned  regulations,  and  to  have 
every  thing  in  readiness  to  take  the  field  as  soon 
as  circumstances  should  require  it. 

In  compliance  with  this  last  article  they  proceed- 
ed to  the  election  that  very  day.  The  suffrages  were 
unanimous  in  favour  of  Antivilu,  Arch-Ulmen  of  the 
province  of  Maquegua,  who  possessed  gicat  influ- 
ence in  the  assembly  ;  but  he  having  declined,  on 
account  of  the  neutrality  which  it  had  been  agreed 
his  province  should  maintain,  the  choice  fell  upon 
Curignancu,  brother  to  the  Ulmen  of  Encol,  who 
combined  all  the  qualities  necessary  at  such  a 
crisis. 

At  the  first  conference  the  governor  proposed  his 
plan  under  every  aspect  that  could  render  it  agree- 
able. The  Araucanians,  agreeably  to  their  previous 
agreement,  objected,  appeared  to  consent,  equivo- 
cated, and  ended  by  requesting  the  necessary  assiü' 


260 

tance  for  beginninj^the  work.  Having  pointed  outthe 
situations  which  appeared  the  most  eligible  for  the 
erection  of  the  new  cities,  a  great  quantity  of  wrought 
iron  was  sent  them  by  the  governor,  together  with 
provisions  and  cattle  for  the  transportation  of  the 
timber.  The  work,  nevertheless,  made  no  progress. 
In  consequence  of  this,  the  quarter-master  Cabrito 
repaired  thither  with  sever¿il  companies  of  soldiers, 
in  order  to  stimulate  the  operations,  and  placed  su- 
perintendants in  every  quarter.  The  sergeant-major 
Rivera  was  charged  with  the  building  of  Nininco, 
and  captain  Burgoa  with  that  of  the  other  city,  which 
was  to  be  erected  on  the  shore  of  the  Bio-bio  ;  while 
the  quarter-master  directed  the  operations  from  his 
head-quarters  at  Angol. 

The  Araucanians,  however,  instead  of  pickaxes 
seized  their  lances,  slew  the  superintendants,  and 
having  united  to  the  number  of  five  hundred  under 
the  standard  of  their  Toqiii,  proceeded  to  beseige 
Cabrito  in  his  camp.  Burgoa,  after  having  been  very 
roughly  treated,  was  set  at  liberty,  in  consequence 
of  his  being  said  to  be  an  enemy  of  the  quarter-mas- 
ter.  The  sergeant-major,  escorted  by  a  missionary, 
crossed  the  Bio-bio  in  sight  of  the  enemy,  who  were 
in  search  of  him  to  kill  him,  and  afterwards  returned 
at  the  head  of  four  hundred  men  to  relieve  Cabrito. 
Another  missionary,  Don  Pedro  Sanchez,  requested 
the  Araucanian  officer  sent  to  escort  him  to  forgive 
a  Spaniard  by  whom  he  had  been  grievously  ofíend- 
ed  a  short  time  before  ;  the  Araucanian  replied, 
that  he  bad  nothing  to  fear  while  in  his  company  ; 
hcsidesj  that  the  present  v/as  no  time  to  think  of  re- 


261 

venf^'mg  private  injuries.  Such  Avas  the  attention 
paid  to  the  security  of  these  characters  that  not  a 
Spaniard  was  shiiu  who  was  able  to  avail  himself  of 
their  protection. 

In  the  mean  time  the  o-overnor  entered  into  an  al- 
liance with  the  Pehuenchcs,  in  order  to  attack  the 
Araucanians  in  several  places  at  the  same  time.  Cu- 
rignancu,  being  informed  of  their  approach,  fell 
upon  them  unexpectedly  on  their  leaving  the  Andes, 
took  prisoners  their  general,  Coligura,  with  his  son, 
whom  he  put  to  death,  and  completely  routed  them. 
This  disgrace,  which  appeared  calculated  to  embitter 
that  nation  forever  towards  the  Araucanians,  on  the 
contrary  reconciled  them  so  completely,  that  they 
have  ever  since  aided  them  in  their  expeditions,  and 
have  become  the  most  implacable  enemies  of  the 
Spaniards.  Curignancu  availed  himself  of  the  as- 
sistance of  these  mountaineers  during  the  war  to 
harass  the  provinces  in  the  vicinity  of  the  capital. 
Since  that  time  they  have  made  a  practice  of  fre- 
quently attacking  the  Spanish  caravans  from  Buenos 
Ayres  to  Chili,  and  every  year  furnishes  some  me- 
lancholy information  of  that  kind. 

Gonzaga,  whose  sanguine  expectations  had  led 
him  to  be  too  hasty  in  giving  information  to  the 
court  of  the  success  of  his  grand  project,  could  not 
endure  the  mortification  of  seeing  it  wholly  des- 
troyed. A  chronic  complaint  to  which  he  was 
subject,  was  so  much  increased  by  this  disappoint- 
ment that  it  deprived  him  of  life  in  the  second  year 
of  the  war,  to  the  great  regret  of  the  inhabitants  to 
whom  he  was  much  endeared  by  his  estimable  quali- 
ties.   Don  Francisco  Xavier  de  Morales,  succeeded 


262 

him  by  the  appointment  of  the  viceroy  of  Peru.  The 
neutral  provinces,  as  had  been  concerted,  had  now 
declared  in  favour  of  the  others,  and  the  war  was 
prosecuted  with  vigour.  Curignancu  on  the  one  side, 
and  his  brave  Vice  Toqui  Leviantu  on  the  other, 
kept  the  Spanish  troops  which  had  been  reinforced 
by  several  divisions  from  Spain,  constantly  in  mo- 
tion. It  is  not  in  our  power  to  notice  particularly 
.  the  different  actions  ;  among  others  a  blood}^  battle 
was  fought  in  the  beginning  of  the  year  177.3,  men- 
tion of  which  was  made  in  the  European  gazettes 
of  that  period,  at  which  time  the  war  had  cost  the 
royal  treasury  and  individuals  one  million  seven 
hundred  thousand  dollars. 

The  same  year  an  accommodation  was  agreed  on. 
Curignancu,  who  was  invested  by  his  nation  with 
full  powers  to  settle  the  articles,  required  as  a  pre- 
liminary, that  the  conferences  should  be  held  in  the 
city  of  St.  Jago.  Although  this  requisition  was 
contrary  to  the  established  custom,  it  was  neverthe- 
less granted  by  the  Spaniards  without  much  diffi- 
culty. When  they  afterwards  came  to  treat  of  the 
terms  of  peace,  the  Araucanian  plenipotentiary 
made  another  proposition,  which  appeared  more  ex- 
traordinary than  the  first.  He  required  that  his  na- 
tion should  be  allowed  to  keep  a  minister  resident  in 
the  city  of  St.  Jago.  The  Spanish  officers  who  were 
present  strongly  opposed  this  demand,  but  the  go- 
vernor thought  it  advisable  to  grant  it,  as  by  this 
means  he  would  have  it  in  his  power  more  readily  to 
adjust  any  disputes  that  might  arise.  These  two 
proposals,  however,  considering  the  disposition  and 


2C3 

mode  of  living  of  the  Araucanians,  may  furnish  a 
copious  field  for  conjecture.  The  other  articles  of 
the  peace  were  not  attended  with  the  least  difficulty; 
the  treaties  of  Quillin  and  Negrete  being  by  mu- 
tual consent  revived. 

On  the  death  of  Gonzaga,  the  court  of  Spain 
sent  Don  Augustin  Jauregui  to  govern  Chili,  who 
has  since  filled  with  universal  approbation  the  im- 
portant office  of  viceroy  of  Peru.  His  successor, 
Don  Ambrosio  Benavides  at  present  renders  the 
country  happy  by  his  wise  and  beneficent  adminis- 
tration. 


i^^^t 


CHAPTER  XL 


Preseîït  State  of  Chili.. 

FROM  the  brief  relation  that  we  have  given 
of  the  occurrences  in  Chili  since  its  discovery,  it 
will  be  seen  that  its  possession  has  cost  Spain  more 
blood  and  treasure  than  all  the  rest  of  her  settle- 
ments in  America.  The  Araucanians,  occupying 
but  a  small  extent  of  territory,  have  with  far  inferior 
arms,  not  only  been  able  to  counterbalance  her  pow- 
er till  then  reputed  irresistible,  but  to  endanger  the 
loss  of  her  best  established  possessions.     Though 


264 

the  greater  part  of  her  officers  had  been  bred  in 
that  school  of  war,  the  low  countries,  and  her  sol- 
diers, armed  with  those  destructive  weapons  before 
which  the  most  extensive  empires  of  that  continent 
had  fallen,  were  considered  as  the  best  in  the 
world,  yet  have  this  people  succeeded  in  resisting 
them. 

This  will  appear  more  wonderful  when  we  call  to 
mind,  the  decided  superiority  that  the  discipline  of 
Europe  has  ever  given  its  troops,  in  all  parts  of  the 
world.  The  rapidity  of  the  Spanish  conquests  ex- 
cited universal  astonishment.  A  few  Portuguese 
gained  possession  of  an  extensive  territory  in  the 
East,  with  a  facility  almost  incredible,  notwithstand- 
ing the  number  and  strength  of  the  natives,  who 
were  accustomed  to  the  use  of  fire-arms.  Their 
general,  Pacheco,  with  a  hundred  and  sixty  of  his 
countrymen,  several  times  defeated  the  powerful 
Zamorin,  who  commanded  an  army  of  fifty  thousand 
soldiers,  well  supplied  with  artillery,  without  the 
loss  of  a  single  man.  Brito,  who  was  besieged  in 
Cananor,  was  equally  successful  in  defeating  a  si- 
milar army.  Even  in  our  days,  Mons.  de  la 
Touche,  with  three  hundred  French,  put  to  flight  an 
army  of  eighty  thousand  Indians,  who  had  invested 
him  in  Pondichcrry,  and  ivilled  twelve  hundred  with 
the  loss  of  only  two  of  his  men.  Notwithstand- 
ino-   the   combined  efforts  of  force  and   skill,  the 

o 

Araucanians  have  constantly  kept  possession  of  their 
country.  A  free  people,  however  inconsiderable  in 
point  of  numbers,  can  perform  wonders  :  The  page 
of  history  teems  with  examples  of  this  kind. 


265 

The  Spaniards,  since  losing  their  settlements  in 
Araiicania,have  prudently  confined  their  views  to  es- 
tablishing themselves  firmly  in  that  part  of  Chili, 
which  lies  between  the  southern  confines  of  Peru  and 
the  river  Bio-bio,  and  extends  from  the  24th  to  the 
36th  and  a  half  degree  of  south  latitude  ;  this,  as  has 
been  already  mentioned,  they  have  divided  into  thir- 
teen provinces.*  They  also  possess  the  fortress  of 
Valdivia,  in  the  country  of  the  Cunchese,  the  Archi- 
pelago of  Chiloe,  and  the  island  of  Juan  Fernandez. 
These  provinces,  as  has  been  already  mentioned,  are 
governed  by  an  officer,  who  has  usually  the  rank  of 
lieutenant-general,  and  combines  the  title  of  presi- 
dent, governor  and  captain-general  of  the  kingdom 
of  Chili.  He  resides  in  the  city  of  St.  Jago,  and  is 
solely  dependant  upon  the  king,  except  in  case 
of  war,  when,  in  certain  points,  he  receives  his  di- 
rections from  the  viceroy  of  Peru. 

In  quality  of  captain-general  he  commands  the 
army,  and  has  under  him  not  only  the  three  principal 
officers  of  the  kingdom,  the  quarter- master,  the  ser- 
geant-major and  the  commissary,  but  also  the  four 
governors  of  Chiloe,  Valdivia,  Valparaiso  and  Juan 
Fernandez.  As  president  and  governor  he  has  the 
supreme  administration  of  justice,  and  presides  ove* 

*  During  the  government  of  Jauregui,  the  province  of  Maule 
was  divided  into  two,  tlie  river  of  that  name,  serving  as  the  boun- 
dary for  each  :  the  part  situated  to  the  north  of  it  retaining  its 
former  name,  and  that  lying  to  the  southward  asauming  that  of 
Cauquenes  its  capital.  Of  late  years  a  farther  reduction  gf  th  t 
province  has  taken  place,  by  the  sepai-ation  from  it  on  the  north 
of  three  curacies,  in  order  to  form  with  son-^e  of  the  lands  of  Cal- 
chagua  the  new  provii^cc  of  Curico. 

Vol.  II.  LI 


266 

the  superior  tribunals  of  that  capital,  whose  jurisdic- 
tion extends  over  all  the  Spanish  provinces  in  those 
parts. 

The  principal  of  these  is  the  Tribunal  of  Audi- 
ence, or  Royal  Senate,  whose  decision  is  final  in  all 
causes  of  importance  both  civil  and  criminal,  and  is 
divided  into  two  courts,  the  one  for  the  trial  of  civil 
and  the  other  for  that  of  criminal  causes.  Both  are 
composed  of  several  respectable  judges  called  audi- 
tors, of  a  regent,  a  fiscal  or  royal  procurator,  and  a 
protector  of  the  Indians.  All  these  officers  receive 
large  salaries  from  the  court.  Their  judgment  is 
final,  except  in  causes  where  the  sum  in  litiga- 
tion exceeds  ten  thousand  dollars,  when  an  appeal 
may  be  had  to  the  supreme  council  of  the  Indies. 
Justice,  as  has  been  already  observed,  is  universally 
agreed  to  be  administered  by  them  with  the  utmost 
impartiality.  The  other  supreme  courts  are  that  of 
Finance,  of  the  Cruzada,  of  Vacant  Lands,  and  the 
ConsuuUe  or  Tribunal  of  Commerce,  which  is  wholly 
indépendant  of  any  other  of  that  kind. 

The  provinces  are  governed  by  Prefects,  formerly 
called  Corregidors,  but  at  present  known  by  the 
name  oï  sub-delegates  ;  these,  according  to  the  forms 
of  their  institution,  should  be  of  royal  nomination, 
but,  owing  to  the  dii>tance  of  the  court,  they  are 
usually  appointed  by  the  captain-general,  of  whom 
they  style  themselves  the  lieutenants.  They  have 
jurisdiction  both  of  civil  and  military  affairs,  and 
their  emoluments  of  office  depend  entirely  upon  their 
fees,  which  are  by  no  means  regular.  In  each  capi- 
tal of  a  province,  there  is,  or  at  least  should  be,  a 
municipal  magistracy  called  the  Cabildo,  which  is 


267 

composed,  as  in  other  parts  of  the  Spanisli  dom-în- 
ions,  of  several  members  called  Regidores,  who 
are  appointed  for  life,  of  a  standard  bearer,  a  procu- 
rator, a  forensic  judge  denominated  the  Provincial 
Alcalde,  an  Alguazil  or  high  sheriff,  and  of  two  con- 
suls, or  burgo-masters  called  Alcaldes.  The  latter 
are  chosen  annually  from  among  the  principal  no- 
bility by  the  Cabildo  itself,  and  have  jurisdiction 
both  in  civil  and  criminal  causes  hi  the  first  instance. 
The  inhabitants  are  divided  into  regiments,  which 
are  obliged  to  march  to  the  frontiers  or  the  sea  coast 
in  case  of  war.*    Besides  this  militia,  the  king  main- 

*  In  the  royal  service,  there  are  at  present  (179:)  fifteen  thou- 
sand eight  hundred  and  fifty-six  militia  troops,  enrolled  in  the  two 
bishoprics  of  Santiago  and  Conception,  ten  thousand  two  hundred 
and  eighteen  in  the  first,  and  five  thousand  six  hundred  and  thirty- 
eight  in  the  latter.  These  military  corps  Avere  first  formed  in 
1777,  during  the  government  of  Don  Augustin  de  Jarcgui,  and 
consist  of  the  choicest  men  in  the  kingdom.  They  are  called  out 
only  upon  public  occasions,  and  seldom  perform  the  duty  of  sen- 
tinels or  patroles,  enjoying  this  privilege  in  consequence  of  always 
holding  themselves  ready  for  war,  and  continually  exercisir.g 
themselves  in  arms. 

Besides  this  regular  militia,  there  are  a  great  many  city  niiiitias 
that  are  commanded  by  commissaries,  who  actas  colonels.  Tliey 
have  under  them  several  companies,  the  number  of  which  is  vari- 
ous and  depends  upon  the  extent  of  the  district  ;  these  in  like 
manner  have  no  fixed  number,  sometimes  exceeding  one  hundred 
men,  and  frequently  falling  short.  From  these  companies,  tl«e 
recruits  to  supply  the  vacancies  in  the  i-egular  corps  are  drawn 
or  selected.  They  serve  as  guards  for  the  inisons,  and  for  the  es- 
cort of  criminals,  and  perform  such  other  duties  as  the  poiice  de- 
mands, without  being  exempted  from  military  service  when  occa- 
sion requires,  whence  all  persons  capable  of  bearing  arms  are  en- 
rolled in  these  companies,  except  such  as  are  immediately  neces- 
sary for  cultivating  the  land  and    taking  c;ire  of   tiie  cattle 

■Sjian.  Trans. 


268 

tains  there  a  sufficient  force  of  regular  troops  for  the 
defence  of  the  country,*  but  as  this  establishment 
has  been  augmented  of  late,  I  cannot  determine  the 
number.  In  Conception,  which  is  upon  the  Arau- 
canian  frontier,  there  are  two  regiments,  one  of  ca- 
valry and  one  of  infantr3\  The  cavalry  is  com- 
manded by  the  brigadier- general,  Don  Ambrosio 
Higgins,  a  native  of  Ireland,  who  by  his  enlightened 
mind  and  excellent  disposition,  has  gained  the  love 
and  esteem  of  all  the  inhabitants.  He  is  likewise 
quarter-master  and  intendant  of  the  department  of 
Conception.!  The  infantry,  as  well  as  the  artillery, 
is  under  the  command  of  two  lieutenant-colonels. 
The  city  of  St.  Jago  also  keeps  in  pay  some  com- 
panies of  dragoons  for  its  protection.  The  revenues 
and  expenses  of  the  government  I  am  imable  to  as- 
certain,  as  they  have  been  considerably  increased 
within  a  few  years. 

*  All  the  veteran  troops  throughout  Chili  amount  to  one  thou- 
sand nine  hundred  and  seventy-six  men,  and  consist  of  two  com- 
panies of  artillery,  nine  of  horse,  including  the  Queen's  dragoons 
at  Santiago,  and  the  remainder  infantry SjiuJi.  'I'raJis. 

t  On  the  21st  of  November,  1787,  this  gentleman  was  appointed 
by  the  king,  president,  governor  and  captain  general  of  Chili,  and 
on  the  19th  of  September,  l?i>9,  field-marshal  of  the  royal  armies. 
At  the  present  time,  1792,  he  discharges  the  duties  of  those  offices 
with  all  that  vigilance  and  attention  which  characterizes  him,  and 
which  so  important  a  trust  requires.  On  his  first  accession  to 
the  governjnent,  he  visited  in  person  the  northern  provinces, 
for  the  purpose  of  dispensing  justice  and  enc(jui-agii;g  agricultui-e, 
opening  of  the  mines,  commerce  and  fishery.  He  also  establish-r 
çij  public  schools,  repaired  the  roads  and  built  several  cities Ibid, 


269 

As  respects  the  ecclesiastical  government,  Chili 
is  divided  into  the  two  large  dioceses  of  St. 
Jago  and  Conception,  which  cities  are  the  resi- 
dence of  the  bishops,  who  are  suffragans  to  the 
archbishop  of  Lima.  The  first  diocese  extends 
from  the  confines  of  Peru  to  the  river  Maule,  com- 
prehending the  province  of  Cujo  upon  the  other 
side  of  the  Andes.  The  second  comprises  all  the 
rest  of  Chili  with  the  islands,  although  the  greater 
part  of  this  extent  is  inhabited  by  pagans.  The 
cathedrals  are  supplied  with  a  proper  number  of 
canons,  whose  revenues  depend  upon  the  tythes,  as 
do  those  of  the  bishops.  The  court  of  inquisition 
at  Lima,  has  at  St.  Jago  a  commissioner  with  seve- 
ral subaltern  officers. 

Pedro  Valdivia,  on  his  first  entering  Chili,  brought 
with  him  the  monks  of  the  order  of  Mercy,  and 
about  the  year  1553  introduced  the  Dominicans  and 
strict  Franciscans.  The  Augustins  established 
themselves  there  in  1595,  and  the  Hospitallers  of  St. 
John  of  God  about  the  year  1615.  These  religious 
orders  have  all  a  number  of  convents,  and  the  three 
first  form  distinct  jurisdictions.  The  brothers  of 
St.  John  of  God  have  the  charge  of  the  hospitals,  un- 
der a  commissary,  who  is  dependant  upon  the  pro- 
vincial of  Peru.  These  are  the  only  religious  fra- 
ternities now  in  Chili.  The  Jesuits,  who  came  into 
Chili  in  1593  with  the  nephew  of  their  founder,  Don 
Martin  de  Loyola,  formed  likewise  a  separate  pro- 
vince. Others  have  several  times  attempted,  but 
without  success,  to  form  establishments,  the  Chilians 
having  always  opposed  the  admission  of  new  order» 


270 

among  them.  In  St.  Jago  and  Conception  are  seve- 
ral convents  of  nuns,  but  the-y  are  the  only  cities 
that  contain  them. 

The  cities  are  built  in  the  best  situations  in  the 
country.  Many  of  them,  however,  would  have  been 
better  placed  for  the  purposes  of  commerce  upon  the 
shores  of  the  large  rivers.  This  is  particularly  the 
case  with  those  of  more  recent  construction.  The 
streets  are  straight,  intersecting  each  other  at  right 
angles,  and  are  thirty- six  French  feet  in  breadth. 
On  account  of  earthquakes,  the  houses  are  generally 
of  one  story  ;  they  are,  however,  very  commodious, 
white-washed  without,  and  generally  painted  within. 
Each  is  accommodated  with  a  pleasant  garden,  irri- 
gated by  an  aqueduct  that  furnishes  Avatcr  for  the  use 
of  the  family.  Those  belonging  to  the  wealthier  clas- 
ses, particularly  the  nobility,  are  furnished  with  much 
splendor  and  taste.  The  inhabitants,  perceiving  that 
old  buildings  of  two  stories  have  resisted  the  most  vio- 
lent shocks,  have  of  late  years  ventured  to  reside  in 
the  upper  rooms,  and  now  begin  to  construct  their 
houses  in  the  ÍLuropean  manner.  In  consequence 
of  this  tlie  cities  have  a  better  appearance  than  for- 
merly, and  the  more  so,  as  instead  of  forming  their 
houses  of  clay  hardened  in  the  sun,  which  was  sup- 
posed less  liable  to  injury,  they  now  employ  brick 
and  stone.  Cellars,  sewers  and  wells  were  formerly 
much  more  common  than  at  present,  a  circum- 
stance which  may  have  contributed  to  render  the 
buildings  more  secure  from  earthquakes. 

The  churches  are  generally  more,  remarkable  for 
their  ^vealth  than  their  style  of  architecture.    The  ca- 


271 

thedral  and  the  church  of  the  Dominicans  in  the 
capital,  which  are  built  of  stone,  are,  however,  ex- 
ceptions. The  first  was  constructed  at  the  royal 
expense,  under  the  direction  of  the  present  bishop, 
Don  Manuel  Alday,  an  excellent  and  learned  prelate  ; 
it  is  built  in  a  masterly  style,  and  is  384  French  feet 
in  front.  The  plan  was  drawn  by  two  English  ar- 
chitects, who  superintended  the  work  ;  but  when  it 
was  half  finished  they  refused  to  go  on,  unless  their 
wages  were  increased.  In  consequence  of  this  the 
building  was  suspended,  when  two  of  the  Indians, 
who  had  worked  under  the  Englishmen,  and  had 
secretly  found  means  of  instructing  themselves  in 
every  branch  of  the  art,  offered  to  complete  it,  which 
they  did  with  as  much  skill  and  perfection  as  their 
masters  themselves  could  have  displayed.  In  the 
capital  the  following  edifices  are  also  worthy  of  re- 
mark :  the  barracks  for  the  dragoons,  the  mint;, 
which  has  been  lately  built  by  a  Roman  architect, 
and  the  hospital  for  orphans,  founded  by  Don  Juan 
Nic- Aguirre,  Marquis  of  Monte-pio,  and  endowed  by 
his  present  majesty,  who  patronises  with  much  libe- 
rality all  establishments  of  public  utility\ 

Spanish  Chili,  in  consequence  of  the  freedom 
granted  to  its  maritime  trade  by  the  present  govern- 
ment, is  peopling  with  a  rapidity  proportioned  to  the 
salubrity  of  its  climate  and  the  fertility  of  its  soiL 
Its  population  in  general  is  composed  of  Europeans, 
Creoles,  Indians,  Negroes  and  Mustees.  The  Eu- 
ropeans, except  a  few  French,  English  and  Italians, 
are  Spaniards,  who  for  the  most  part  are  from  the 
southern  provinces  of  Spain.     The  Creoles,  who 


272 

form  the  greater  number,  are  the  descendants  of 
Europeans.  Their  character,  with  some  slight  dif- 
ference, proceeding  from  climate  or  government,  is 
precisely  similar  to  that  of  the  other  American  Creoles 
of  European  origin.  The  same  modes  of  thinking, 
and  the  same  moral  qualities  are  discernible  in  them 
all.  This  uniformity,  which  furnishes  much  subject 
for  reflection,  has  never  yet  been  considered  by  any 
philosopher  in  its  full  extent.  Whatever  intelligent 
and  unprejudiced  travellers  have  observed  respect- 
ing the  characters  of  the  French  and  English  Creoles, 
will  perfectly  apply  to  that  of  the  Chilian.* 

*  The  Creoles  are  generally  well  made.  Those  deformities  so 
common  in  other  countries  are  very  rarely  to  be  found  among  them. 
Their  coui'age  has  frequently  signalised  itself  in  war  by  a  series  of 
brilliant  actions  ;  nor  would  there  be  any  better  soldiers  in  the 
world  if  they  were  less  averse  to  discipline.  Their  history  furnishes 
notraitsof  tiiat  cowardice,  treachery  and  base  conduct  which  dis- 
honours the  annals  of  all  nations,  and  scarcely  can  an  instance  be 
adduced  of  a  Creole  having  committed  a  disgraceful  act. 

Their  minds  are  untainted  with  dissimulation,  artifice  or  suspi- 
cion. Possessing  great  frankness  and  vivacity,  and  a  high  opinion 
of  themselves,  their  intercourse  is  wholly  free  from  that  mystery 
and  reserve  which  obscures  aniiableness  of  character,  depresses 
the  social  spirit,  and  chills  sensibility. 

An  ardent  imagination,  which  admits  of  no  restraint,  renders 
^em  independent  and  inconstant  in  their  inclinations.  It  impels 
them  to  the  pursuit  of  pleasure  v.itli  an  eagerness  to  which  they 
sacrifice  their  fortunes  and  their  very  existence.  A  keen  penetra- 
tion, a  remarcable  quickness  in  conceiving  and  in  expressing  their 
Ideas  with  force,  the  talent  of  combining  added  to  that  of  observa- 
tion, and  a  happy  mixture  of  all  the  qualities  of  mind  and  of  cha- 
racter that  render  man  capable  of  the  greatest  performances, 
prompts  them  to  the  boldest  undertaking?,  when  stimulated  by  op- 
jíres-íion Jf.ayval''s  Hj.iîorv  of  the  Indies^  vol.  v.  lib.  iL 


273 

They  are  generally  possessed  of  good  talents,  and 
succeed  in  any  of  the  arts  to  which  they  apply  them^ 
selves.  They  would  make  as  great  progress  in  the 
useful  sciences  as  they  have  done  in  metaphysics,  if 
they  had  the  same  motives  to  stimulate  them  as  are 
found  in  Europe.  They  do  not  readily  imbibe  pre- 
judices, and  are  not  tenacious  in  retaining  them.  As 
scientific  books  and  instruments,  however,  are  very 
scarce,  or  sold  at  an  exorbitant  price,  their  talents 
are  either  never  developed,  or  are  wdiolly  employed 
upon  trifles.  The  expenses  of  printing  are  also  so 
great,  as  to  discourage  literarv  exertion,  so  that  few 
aspire  to  the  reputation  of  authors.  The  knowledge 
of  the  civil  and  canonical  laws  is  held  in  Ec^eat  esteem 
by  them,  so  that  many  of  the  Chilian  youth,  after 
having  completed  their  course  of  academical  educa- 
tion in  Chili,  proceed  to  Lima,  which  is  highly  cele- 
brated for  its  schools  of  law,  in  order  to  be  instruct- 
ed in  that  science. 

The  fine  arts  are  in  a  very  low  state  in  Chili,  and 
even  the  mechanical  are  as  yet  very  far  from  perfec- 
tion. We  may  except,  however,  those  of  carpentry, 
and  the  working  of  iron  and  the  precious  metals, 
which  have  made  considerable  progress,  in  conse- 
quence of  the  information  obtained  from  some  Ger- 
man artists,  who  were  introduced  into  the  country 
by  that  worthy  ecclesiastic,  Father  Carlos,  of  Hain- 
hausen  in  Bavaria. 

The  important  change  which  the  exertions  of  the 
present  monarch  have  so  materially  contributed  to 
produce  throughout  his  dominions,  in  directing  the 

Vol.  II.  M  m 


274 

attention  of  his  subjects  to  useful  improvements,  has 
extended  itself  to  these  parts.  The  arts  and  sciences, 
which  before  were  either  not  known,  or  very  im- 
perfectly, at  present  engage  the  attention  of  the  in- 
habitants, so  that  there  is  reason  to  hope  that  in  a 
short  time  the  slate  of  the  country  will  assume  a  very 
diíFerent  appearance. 

The  peasantry,  though  for  much  the  greater  part 
of  Spanish  origin,  dress  in  the  Araucanian  manner. 
Disjiersed  over  that  extensive  country,  and  unen- 
cumbered by  restraint,  they  possess  perfect  liberty, 
and  lead  a  tranquil  and  Inppy  life,  amidst  the  enjoy- 
ments of  that  deliglitful  climate.*  They  arc  natu- 
rally gay  and  fond  of  all  kinds  of  diversion.  They 
have  likewise  a  taste  for  music,  and  compose  verses 
after  their  manner,  which,  although  rude  and  inele- 
gant, possess  a  certain  natural  simplicity  more 
interesting  than  the  laboured  com])ositions  of  cul- 
tivated poets.  Extemporaneous  rhymers,  or  im- 
provisatori,  arc  common  among  them,  and  are  called 
in  their  language  Palladores.  Those  known  to  pos- 
sess this  talent  are  held  in  great  estimation,  and  ap- 
ply themselves  to  no  other  occupation.  In  the 
countries  dependent  on  the  Spanish  colonies,  there 
is  generally  no  other  language  than  the  Spanish  spo- 

.  *Tlie  principal  part  of  these  healthy  and  robust  men  live  dis- 
persed upon  tlieir  possessions,  and  culti\ate  withtlieir  own  hands  a 
greater  or  less  extent  of  ground.  They  are  incited  to  this  laudable 
labour  by  a  sky  always  clear  and  serene,  and  a  climate  the  most 
at;rceai)ly  temperate  of  any  in  the  twohemispheres,  but  more  espe- 
cially by  a  soil  wlio^c  fertility  has  excited  tlie  admiration  of  all  tra- 
vcllers;....i'i«j/7za/,  lib.viii.  ;  Chili. 


275 

ken  ;  but  on  the  frontiers  the  peasants  speak  the 
Araucanian  or  Chilian  as  well  as  the  former. 

The  men  dress  in  the  French,  and  the  women  in 
the  Peruvian  fashion,  except  that  the  women  of 
Chili  wear  their  garments  longer  than  those  of  Peru. 
In  point  of  luxury,  there  is  no  difference  between 
the  inhabitants  of  the  two  countries  ;  Lima  pre- 
scribes the  fashions  for  Chili,  as  Paris  does  for  the 
rest  of  Europe.  Those  who  are  wealthy  make  a 
splendid  display  in  their  dress,  their  servants,  coaches 
or  titles.  Chili  alone,  of  all  the  American  provinces, 
has  enjoyed  the  superior  privilege  of  having  two  of 
its  citizens  exalted  to  the  dignity  of  gi-andees  of 
Spain  ;  these  are,  Don  Fernando  irrazabal.  Marquis 
of  Valparaiso,  born  in  St.  Jago,  who  was  viceroy 
of  Navarre  and  generalissimo  of  the  Spanish  army 
in  the  time  of  Philip  the  Fourth  ;  and  Don  Fermín 
Caravajal,  Duke  of  St.  Carlos,  a  native  of  Concep- 
tion, who  resides  at  present  at  the  court  of  Madrid. 
Don  Juan  Covarrubias,  who  was  a  native  of  St. 
Jago,  in  the  beginning  of  the  present  centur}^  en- 
tered into  the  service  of  the  king-  of  France,  and 
was  rewarded  with  the  title  of  Marquis  of  Covarru- 
bias, the  order  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  the  rank  of 
Marshal  in  the  French  army. 

The  salubrity  of  the  air  and  the  constant  exer- 
cise on  horseback  to  which  they  accustom  themselves 
from  childhood,  render  them  strong  and  active,  and 
preserve  them  from  many  diseases.  The  small 
pox  is  not  so  common  as  in  Europe,  but  it  makes 
terrible  ravages  when  it  appears.  This  disease  was, 
in  the  year  1766,  for  the  ñrst   time  introduced   into 


276 

the  province  of  jMaúíe,  where  it  became  very  fatal. 
A  countryman  who  had  recovered  fjom  it,  conceiv- 
ed the  idea  of  attempting  to  cure  a  number  of  un- 
happy wretches  who  had  been  abandoned  by  cow's 
milk,  wlñclihe  gave  them  to  drink,  or  administered 
to  them  in  clysters.  With  tliis  simple  remedy  he 
cured  all  those  wliom  he  attended,  while  the  physi- 
cians with  their  complicated  prescriptions  saved  buta 
very  few.  I  have  mentioned  this  anecdote,  as  it 
serves  strongly  to  confirm  the  successful  experi- 
ments of  INI.  Lassone,  physician  to  the  queen  of 
France,  in  the  cure  of  the  small  pox  with  cow's  milk, 
published  by  himself  in  the  medical  transactions  of 
Paris  for  the  year  1779.  The  countryman,  how- 
ever, employed  milk  alone,  whereas  M.  de  Lassone 
thought  it  advisable  to  mix  it  \vith  a  decoction  of 
parsley  roots.  These  instances  would  seem  to  prove 
that  milk  has  the  singular  property  of  lessening  the 
virulence  of  this  disorder,  and  repressing  its  noxious 
or  deadly^cjualities. 

The  inhabitants  of  the  country  are  generally  very 
benevolent.  Contented  Mith  a  comfortable  subsist- 
ence, they  may  be  said  scarcely  to  know  w  hat  parsi- 
mony or  avarice  is,  and  are  very  rarely  infected  with 
that  vice.  Their  houses  are  open  to  all  travellers  that 
come,  whom  they  freely  entertain  without  an  idea  of 
pay,  and  often  on  these  occasions  regret  that  they 
are  not  more  wealthy,  in  order  to  exercise  their  hos- 
pitality to  a  greater  extent.  This  virtue  is  also  com- 
mon in  the  cities.*     To  this  cause  it  is  owing  that 

*  Throughout  Chili  they  are  extremely  kind  to  strangers;  the 
inh.ibitants  ave  unequalled  in  point  of  hospitiility,  and  I  have  my» 


277 

they  have  not  hitherto  been  attentive  U)  tjic  erection 
of  inns  and  pubhc  lodging  houses,  v/hieh  u  ill,  how- 
ever, become  necessary  when  the  commerce  of  the 
interior  is  more  increaEcd. 

Lord  Anson,  in  his  voyage,  gives  a  particular  de- 
scription of  the  dexterity  of  the  South  American 
peasants  in  managing  the  laqui,  with  which  they 
take  animals,  either  wild  or  domestic.  In  Chili,  the 
inhabitants  of  the  country  constantly  carry  this  laqui 
with  them,  fastened  to  their  saddles,  in  order  to  have 
it  ready  upon  occasion,  and  are  very  skilful  in 
the  use  of  it.  It  consists  merely  of  a  strip  of  lea- 
ther several  fathoms  in  length,  well  twisted  in  the 
manner  of  a  cord,  and  terminated  by  a  strong  noose 
of  the  same  material.  They  make  use  of  it  both  on 
foot  and  on  horseback,  and  in  the  latter  case  with 
equal  certainty  whether  amidst  woods,  mountains  or 
steep  declivities.  On  these  occasions,  one  end  of 
it  is  fastened  under  the  horses  belly,  and  the  other 
held  by  the  rider,  who  throws  it  over  the  flying  ani- 
mal with  a  dexterity  that  scarcely  ever  misses  its 
aim.  Herodotus  makes  mention  of  a  similar  noose 
which  was  used  in  battle  by  the  Sagartians.*     The 

self  e/:perienced  such  great  and  importiint  favours,  that  I  cannot 
find  words  to  express  my  gratitude.  The  ill  return  that  they  have 
frequently  met  with  from  individuáis  of  our  nation,  has  never  been 
able  to  produce  a  diminuiion  of  their  native  hospitality..../^i'2«V/c', 
vol.  ii. 

*  Tlie  Sagartii  were  originally  of  Persian  descent,  and  use  the 
Persian  language  ;  they  h.ive  no  offensive  weapons  either  of  iron 
or  brass,  except  their  dags^ers  ;  their  principal  dépendance  in  ac- 
tion is  upon  cords  made  of  twisted  leather,  which  they  use  in  this 
manner  :  when  they  engage  an  enemy,  tliey  throw  out  these  cord;-., 


278 

Chilians  have  also  employed  the  Jaqui  with  success 
against  the  English  pirates  who  have  landed  upon 
their  coast.  They  are  also  skilful  in  the  manage- 
ment oí"  horses,  and  in  the  opinion  of  travellers,  who 
have  had  an  opportunity  of  witnessing  their  dexterity 
and  courage  in  this  exercise,  they  might  soon  be 
formed  into  the  best  body  of  cavalry  in  the  world. 
Their  attachment  to  horses  renders  them  particu- 
larly fond  of  horse-racing,  which  they  conduct  in 
the  English  manner. 

The  negroes,  who  have  been  introduced  into 
Chili  wholly  by  contraband  means,  are  subject- 
ed to  a  state  of  servitude,  which  may  be  consi- 
dered as  tolerable  in  comparison  to  that  which  they 
endure  in  many  parts  of  America,  where  the  interest 
of  the  planter  stifles  every  sentiment  of  humanity. 
As  the  planting  of  sugar  and  other  articles  of  West- 
Indian  commerce  has  not  been  established  in  Chili, 
the  slaves  are  employed  in  domestic  services,  where 
by  attention  and  diligence  they  more  readily  acquire 
the  favour  of  their  masters.  Those  in  most  esteem, 
are  either  such  as  are  born  in  the  country  of  African 
parents,  or  the  mulattoes,  as  they  become  more  at- 
tached to  the  family  to  which  they  belong. 

The  humanity  of  the  government  or  the  inhabi- 
tants has  introduced  in  favoiu'  of  this  unfortunate 
race  a  very  proper  regulation.  Such  of  them  as  by 
their  industry  have  obtained  a  sum  of  money  suffi- 
cient for  the  purchase  of  a  slave,  can  ransom  them- 

having  a  nonse  at  the  extremity  ;  if  tlicy  entangle  in  tlieni  cither 
liorse  or  man,  they  without  clifhculty  put  them  to  deiith.-.-Ci/ofA.' 
Jlerod'jíiis,  v(il.  iii.  rolijJiniiu^\)\\^ti  205, 


279 

selves  by  paying  it  to  their  masters,  who  are  ob- 
liged to  receive  it  and  set  them  at  liberty,  and  num- 
bers who  have  in  this  manner  obtained  their  free- 
dom, are  to  be  met  with  throughout  the  coun- 
try. Those  who  are  ill  treated  by  their  owners, 
can  demand  a  letter  of  sale^  which  is  a  written  per- 
mission to  them  to  seek  a  purchaser.  In  case  of  the 
master's  refusal,  they  have  the  privilege  of  applying 
to  the  judge  of  the  place,  who  examines  their  com- 
plaints, and  if  well  founded,  grants  them  the  permis- 
sion required.  Such  instances  are,  however,  very 
unusual,  either  because  the  master  on  account  of 
his  reputation,  avoids  reducing  his  slaves  to  this  ex- 
tremity, or  that  the  slaves  themselves  contract  such 
an  attachment  to  their  masters,  that  the  greatest 
punishment  inflicted  on  them  would  be  to  sell  them 
to  others.  From  hence  it  often  happens  that  those 
who,  for  their  good  conduct,  have  their  liberties 
given  them,  do  not  wish  to  avail  themselves  of  it, 
in  order  not  to  lose  the  protection  of  the  house  they 
belong  to,  where  they  are  certain  of  always  having  a 
subsistence  furnished  them.  Masters  exercise  the 
rights  of  fathers  of  families  over  their  slaves,  in  cor- 
recting them  for  their  faults  ;  the  kind  and  degree 
of  punishment  is  left  with  them  when  they  have 
been  guilty  of  any  crime  that  is  not  capital.  Al- 
though such  a  state  of  servitude  appears  repugnant 
to  natural  right,  yet  society  derives  great  advantages 
from  it.  Families  are  not  exposed  to  the  instability  of 
servants,  who,  considering  themselves  as  strangers, 
never  become  attached  to  the  house,  and  without 
hesitation  communicate  all  its  secrets. 


The  internal  commerce  of  Chili  has  been  hitherto 
of  very  little  importance,  notwithstanding  the  ad- 
vantages that  the  country  offers  for  its  encourage- 
ment. Its  principal  source,  industry,  or  more  pro- 
perly speaking,  necessity,  is  wanting.  An  exten- 
sive commerce  is  correlative  with  a  great  population, 
and  in  proportion  as  the  latter  increases  the  former 
will  also   be  augmented.*     A  communication  by 

*  Hitherto  it  may  be  said,  that  of  the  two  branches  that  in  gene- 
ral give  birth  to  commerce,  agriculture  and  industry,  the  first  is 
that  alone  which  animates  the  internal  commerce  of  Chili,  and 
even  that  part  of  tlie  external  which  is  carried  on  with  Peru.  The 
working  of  mines  also  occupies  the  attention  of  many  in  the  provin- 
ces of  Copiapo,  Coquimbo  and  Quillota.  But  the  industry  is  so 
trifling  that  it  does  not  deserve  the  name.  Notwithstanding  the 
a!)undanreof  its  fruits  and  materials  of  the  first  class,  as  f4;ix,  wool, 
hemp,  skins  and  metals,  which  might  produce  a  flourishing  com- 
merce, it  is  conducted  but  languidly.  The  inhabitants  employ 
themselves  only  in  making  ponchos,  stockings,  socks,  carpets, 
bhiikets,  skin  coats,  riding  saddles,  hats  and  other  small  articles, 
cliicfly  made  use  of  by  the  common  or  poorer  class  of  people, 
since  those  of  the  middle  rank  employ  European  manufactures. 
These,  i>ut  more  particularly  the  sale  of  hides  and  tanned  leather, 
which  they  have  in  great  plenty,  with  that  of  grain  and  wine  form 
thi;  v/hole  of  the  internal  commerce  of  the  kingdom. 

The  external  which  is  carried  on  with  all  the  ports  of  Peru, 
particularly  Callao,  arises  from  t!ie  exportation  of  fruits  ;  this 
aniounts  to  seven  hundred  thousand  dollars,  serving  not  oidy  to 
counterbalance  the  importations  from  that  country,  but  leaving  a 
balance  in  favour  of  Chili  of  two  hundred  thousand  dollars  ainui- 
ally,  according  to  the  statements  given  in  the  periodical  publica- 
tions of  Lima. 

The  commerce  between  Cuüi  and  B'lenos-Ayres  is  quite  other- 
wise, since  for  the  herb  of  Paraguay  (tobacco)  alone  it  is  obliged 
to  adv.uice  throe  hundred  dollars  annually,  in  cash.  The  other 
articles  icceivcd  iVom  thence  are  probably  paid  for  by  those  sent 
thither. 


281 

ivater,  which  greatly  facilitates  its  progress,  has  been 
already  commenced.  In  several  of  the  ports  barks 
are  employed  in  the  transportation  of  merchan- 
dise, wliich  was  before  carried  by  land  upon  mules, 
with  great  trouble  and  expense  to  the  merchant* 
This  beneficial  innovation  will  probably  be  followed 
by  others  of  still  greater  importance.  Several  large 
ships  have  also  been  built  in  the  harbour  of  Concep- 
tion and  the  mouth  of  the  river  Maule.     The  ex- 

In  the  trade  with  Spain,  the  fruits  received  from  Chili  go  but 
a  little  way  in  payment  of  more  than  a  million  of  dollars,  which 
are  received  from  thence  annually  in  European  goods,  either  di- 
rectly or  by  the  way  of  Buenos- Ayres,  and  sometimes  from  Lima. 
Gold,  silver  and  copper  are  the  articles  which  form  the  whole  of 
this  commerce,  since  the  hides  and  vicugna  wool  are  in  such  small 
quantities  as  to  render  them  of  little  importance. 

The  gold  which  is  coined  in  the  capital,  is  regulated  at  five 
thousand  two  hundred  marks  annually,  whence,  by  companng  the 
amount  shipped  with  that  coined,  as  no  overplus  appears,  it  is 
concluded  that  there  is  no  clandestine  extraction,  notwithstanding 
in  bullion  and  in  works  of  use  or  ora  iment  a  very  considerable 
quantity  is  expended. 

The  silver  obtained  from  the  mines  is  calculated  at  thirty  thou- 
sand marks.  Of  this  amount  twenty  five  thousand  is  coined 
yearly,  and  the  residue  employed  in  the  ¡nanufacture  of  table 
plate,  and  for  various  other  purposes.  The  difference  in  the 
quantity  shipped  from  that  coined  arises  from  the  receipts  from 
Lima.  The  remittances  of  gold  and  silver  to  Spain  are  usually 
made  from  Buenos-Ayres  ;  the  first,  being  less  bulky,  is  carried 
by  the  monthly  packets  in  sums  of  two  or  three  thousand  ounces  ; 
as  to  the  second,  it  is  sent  in  two  convoy-  ships  in  the  summer,  by 
which  conveyances  gold  is  also  remitted.  In  calculating  the  gold 
from  the  remittances,  it  amounts  to  six-hundred  and  fifty-six  thou- 
sand dollars,  and  the  silver  to  two-hundred  and  forty-four  thou- 
sand. The  copper  which  is  extracted  from  the  mines  is  estimated 
from  eight  to  ten  thousand  quintals.  From  these  data  it  will  not 
be  difficult  to  form  a  general  estimate  of  all  that  Chili  produces 
annually. 

Vol.  il  Nn 


282 

ternal  eommerce  is  carried  on  with  Peru  and  Spain, 
In  the  first  twenty-three  or  twenty-four  ships  of  five 
or  six  hundred  tons  each  are  employed,  which  are 
partly  Chilian  and  partly  Peruvian.  These  usually 
make  three  voyages  in  a  year  ;  they  carry  from  Chili 
wheat,  wine,  pulse,  almonds,  nuts,  cocoa-nuts,  con- 
serves, dried  meat,  tallow,  lard,  cheese,  sole  leather, 
timber  for  building,  copper,  and  a  variety  of  other 
articles,  and  bring  back  in  return  silver,  sugar,  rice 
and  cotton.  The  Spanish  ships  receive  in  exchange 
for  European  merchandise  gold,  silver,  copper,  vi- 
cugna wool  and  hides.  A  trade  with  the  East  Indies 
would  be  more  profitable  to  the  Chilians  than  any 
other,  as  their  most  valuable  articles  have  either  be- 
come scarce,  or  are  not  produced  in  that  wealthy 
part  of  Asia,  and  the  passage,  in  consequence  of  the 
prevalence  of  the  south  winds  in  the  Pacific,  would 
be  easy  and  expeditious.  No  money  is  coined  or 
has  currency  in  Chili  except  gold  and  silver,  a  cir- 
cumstance very  embarrassing  to  the  internal  traffic. 
Their  smallest  silver  coin  is  one  sixteenth  of  a  dol- 
lar, and  their  weights  and  measures  are  the  same  that 
are  used  in  Madrid. 


END    OF    THE    HISTORY. 


AN    ESSAY 


ON    THF, 


CIIILIAJV  LAA'GUAGE. 


-»-♦♦- 


1  HE  or'Iginal  language  of  Chili,  generally  called 
the  Araucanian,  is  denominated  by  the  natives  Chili 
dngîi,  the  Chilian  tongue.  The  alphabet  contains 
the  same  letters  as  the  Latin,  except  the  x,  which  is 
in  truth  nothing  more  than  a  compound  letter.  The 
s,  which  has  been  by  some  grammarians  very  pro- 
perly called  a  hissing  rather  than  a  letter,  is  only  to 
be  found  in  about  twenty  of  their  words,  and  never 
occurs  at  the  termination,  which  gives  to  their  pro- 
nunciation  a  great  degree  of  fulness.  The  z  is  still 
more  seldom  to  be  met  with.  Besides  these  com- 
mon letters,  the  Chilian  has  a  mute  e  and  a  peculiar 
u,  like  the  Greeks  and  the  French  :  the  former  is 
designated  by  the  acute,  and  the  latter  by  the 
grave  accent,  to  distinguish  them  from  the  common 
e  and  ?/.  This  u  is  also  frequently  changed  into  i  in 
the  manner  of  the  modern  Greeks.  It  has  besides  a 
nasal  g  and  a  th  which  is  pronounced  by  pressing 
the  tongue  against  the  roof  of  the  mouth  ;  the  latter 
is  frequently  changed  into  c/i,  as  c/iegua  for  thegua 
{the  dog).     In  the  whole   of  the   Chilian   alphabet 


286 

there  is  not  a  single  guttural  letter  or  vocal  aspirate, 
a  very   singular  circumstance  with   an   uncivilized 
people.     It  is  proper  to  note,  that  in  giving  the  Chi- 
lian words  the  Italian  orthography  has  been  adopted. 
All  the  words  of  the  language  terminate  in  the  six 
vowels  heretofore  noticed,  and  in  the  consonants  ¿, 
^i/i  g^  h  ^¡h  ")  ^'  and  I.'.     There  are,   of  course,  fif- 
teen distinct  terminations,  which,  with  their  variety, 
render  the  language  sweet  and  sonorous.     The  ac- 
cent is  usually  placed  upon  the  penultimate   vowel, 
sometimes  on  the  last,  but  never  on  the  antepenult. 
The  radicals,  as  far  as  can  be  collected  from  the  vo- 
cabularies, which  have  been  hitherto  very  imperfect, 
amount  to  one  thousand  nine  hundred  and  seventy- 
three,  and  are  for  the  greater  part  either  monosylla- 
bles or  dissyllables.     I  have  made  use  of  the  above 
term  in  a  much  more  limited  sense  than  many,  who 
improperly  call  all  those  words  radicals  that  in  any 
mode  produce  others.     Proceeding  upon  so  false  a 
principle,  they  make  some  languages  contain  thirty 
or  forty  thousand  roots,    which  must  be  considered 
a  grammatical  paradox.     The  roots  of  a  language 
are  those  simple  primitive  expressions,  which,   nei- 
ther directly  or  indirectly  derived  from  any  other, 
produce  various  words,  that  afterwards  extend  them- 
selves into  a  variety  of  diiferent  forms.     Kven  in  the 
most  copious   languages,  as   th'e  Greek  aud  Latin, 
the  number  of  these  roots  is  very  limited.     As  far 
as  wc  have  been  able  to  discover,   the  radical  Chi- 
lian words  have  no  analogy  with  those  of  any  other 
known  idiom,  though  the  language  contains  a  num- 


287 

ber  of  Greek  and  Latin  words  very  little  varied, 
as  may  be  seen  in  the  following  table  : 


Chilian. 

Greek. 

Aldùn 

Aide  in 

to  increase 

Ale 

Ele 

splendour 

Amun 

Amouôn 

to  go 

Cai 

Kai 

and 

Ga 

Oh 

in  truth 

Lamfiaicon 

Làmpein 

to  shine 

Mùlan 

Mullen 

to  pulverise 

Pele 

Pelos 

mud 

Reuma 

Reuma 

a  stream 

Tù/îun 

Tupein 

to  whip,   &C.  £cc 

Chilian. 

Latín. 

Aren 

Arderé 

to  burn 

Cu/ia 

Cupere 

to  desire 

Dafiin 

Dapinare 

to  feast 

Ejun 

Ejulare 

to  weep 

I.ev 

Levis 

active  or  swift 

Lumlùmén 

Lumen 

light 

Litv 

Lux 

brightness 

Man 

Manus 

the  right  hand 

Putun 

Potare 

to  drink 

Valin 

Valere 

to  be  worth 

Valen 

Valere 

to  be  able 

Une 

Uniis 

one,  Sec.  he 

This,  however,  is  probably  only  the  result  of  an 
accidental  combination,  for  the  opinion  that  they  have 
been  derived  from  the  Spanish  is  utterly  destitute  of 
foundation,  the  nation  being  for  the  most  part  unac- 
quainted with  it,  whereas  these  words  are  to  be  found 
in  the  earliest  vocabularies  of  the  Chilian  language. 

The  Chilian  nouns  are  declined  with  a  single  de- 
clension, or,  to  speak  with  more  precision,  tliey  are 
all  undeclinable,  except  by  the  addition  of  various 


288 

articles  or  particles  which  mark  the  number  and  case. 
They  resemble  the  Greek  nouns  in  having  three 
numbers,  the  singular,  the  dual  and  the  plural,  as 
^vill  appear  in  the  following  example  : 

Singular. 

Nom.  CarUf  the.  city.  Accus.  Cara. 

Gen.    Cara-ni.  Voc.       a  Cara. 

Dat.      Cara-mcu.  Abl.       Cara-mo. 

Dual. 

Nom.  Cara-fg-u,  the  two  cities.       Accus.  Cara-egu. 
Gen.    Cara-tgu-rà.  Voc.      a  Cara-cgu. 

Dat.     Cara-egu-meu  Abl.       Cara-egu-mo. 

Plural. 

Nom.  pu- Cara.,  the  cities.  Accus.  pu-Cara. 

Gen.   pu-Cara-ni.  Voc.       a  pu-Cara. 

Dat.    pU'Cara-meu.  Abl.       pu-Cava-mc. 

Instead  oï pu,  the  discriminative  mark  of  the  plu- 
ral, the  particles  ica  or  á-^í?/?  may  be  used  affixed  to 
the  noun,  or  que  placed  between  the  adjective  and 
substantive  when  they  come  together.  Thus  Cara 
will  make  in  the  plural  either  Caraica,  or  Caraeghi, 
or  Cumeque  Cara.,  the  good  cities. 

From  hence  it  will  be  seen  that,  contrary  to  the 
practice  in  the  modern  languages  of  Europe,  the  ar- 
ticle in  the  Chilian  is  affixed  to  the  noun.  This 
mode  of  declension  sometimes  occurs  in  the  Greek 
and  Latin  languages,  in  which  we  meet  with  a  few 
nouns  declined  in  this  manner,  though  more  various- 
ly, as  musa  in  Latin,  and  soma  in  Greek.  The  Chi- 
lian abounds  with  adjectives  both  primitive  and  de- 


289  , 

rivative.  The  latter  are  formed  from  every  part  of 
speech  by  certain  invariable  rules,  as  from  tue.,  earth, 
comes  tuetii,  terrestrial  ;  from  quimen^  to  know, 
quimchi.,  wise  ;  and  these,  by  the  interposition  of  the 
particle  no,  become  negative,  as  tuenotu,  not  terres- 
trial ;  quimnochi,  ignorant.  Although  these  adjec- 
tives have  all  different  terminations,  they  are,  never- 
theless, like  the  English  adjectives,  unsusceptible  of 
number  or  of  gender.  The  same  is  the  case  with 
the  participles  and  the  derivative  pronouns,  from 
whence  it  may  be  said  that  the  Chilian  possesses  but 
one  gender.  Whether  this  defect  is  real  or  only  ap- 
parent, it  is  we-11  compensated  by  the  advantage 
which  the  language  possesses  of  rendering  any  one 
secure  against  the  commission  of  a  grammatical  er- 
ror, either  in  writing  or  in  speaking,  as  whenever  it 
becomes  necessary  to  distinguish  the  sexes,  the  word 
alca  is  used  to  denote  the  mascuJine,  and  domo  the 
feminine  gender. 

The  comparative  is  formed,  as  inmost  of  the  living- 
languages,  by  prefixing  to  the  positive  the  particle 
jod  or  dot,  signifying  more,  and  to  the  superlatives 
the  adverbs  cad  or  imi,  as  doichu,  more  limpid  ;  imi- 
liu,  most  limpid.  The  Chilian  want  the  diminu- 
tives  and  augmentatives,  but  these,  as  in  the  French, 
are  supplied  by  the  adjective  pichi,  little,  and  ôiita, 
great.  Diminutives  are  also  formed  by  changing  a 
letter  of  a  harsh  sound  for  one  more  harmonious,  as 
votun,  son  ;  vochiwt,  little  son.  The  primitive  pro- 
nouns are,  incke,  I  ;  eimi,  you  ;  tei/e,  which,  &c. 
The  relatives  are,  iuet/y  v/ho  ;  cheniy  what  ;  ta  or  ga, 

Vol.  II.  o  o 


290 

that,  8ic.  The  verbs  terminate  in  the  infinitive,  as 
in  the  Greek  and  German,  in  ii,  with  this  difference, 
that  all  the  German  verbs  end  in  en,  and  the  Greek 
in  ¿//,  except  in  those  cases  where  they  are  contract- 
ed ;  whereas  the  Chilian  terminate  in  the  syllables 
an,  en,  in,  on,  un  and  un.  They  are  all,  nevertheless, 
without  exception,  regulated  by  a  single  conjugation, 
and  are  of  three  kinds,  active,  passive  and  imper- 
sonal, with  three  numbers,  the  singular,  the  dual, 
and  the  plural.  They  have  all  the  Latin  moods  and 
tenses,  with  three  or  four  others,  which  may  be  de- 
nominated mixed. 

All  the  tenses  of  the  indicative  produce  participles 
and  gerunds  both  in  active  and  passive  verbs.  The 
terminations  of  the  present  tense  of  each  mood  serve 
for  the  other  tenses  of  the  same  mood,  which  are 
distinga islied  from  one  another  by  certain  charac- 
teristic particles,  2^^  que  in  the  second  present  tense, 
bu  in  the  perfect,  uye  in  the  perfect,  and  a  in  the 
first  future.  The  compound  and  mixed  tenses  are 
formed  by  the  union  of  the  same  particles.  These 
characteristic  particles  are  applicable  to  all  the 
moods,  as  well  of  active  as  of  passive  and  imper- 
sonal verbs. 

Verbs  passive  are  formed  by  placing  the  auxiliary 
gen,  to  be,  between  the  radical  and  the  final;/  of  the 
verb,  and  is  conjugated  with  the  same  terminations 
as  the  active.  The  impersonal  are  formed  by  an- 
nexing the  particle  am  to  the  radical  word,  or  to  the 
denotement  of  time.  This  simple  method  will  ap- 
pear more  clearly  in  the  conjugation  of  the  verb  elun. 


291 

to  give,  which  will  serve  as  a  model  for  all  the  others 
without  exception. 

VERB  ACTIVE. 

INDICATIVE     MOOD. 

Present  Tense. 

Sing.  Rlun^  I  give.  Dual,  EluyUy  -we  two  give. 

Eliiimis  thou  givest.  Eluimuj  you  two  give. 

Elui,  he  gives.  Eluiffu,  they  two  give. 

Plural.  Eluign,  we  give. 
£luime?i,  ye  give. 
Eluigen^  they  give. 

Second  Present. 

Sing.  Eluchen,  I  give.  Elucheimi,,  th^  givest,  fccc* 

Imperfect. 
Sing.  Elubun,  I  did  give.  Elubuimi,  thou  didst  give,  &c. 

Perject. 

Sing.  Eluuyen   I  gave.  Eluuyeimi,  thou  gayest,  Sec. 

Pluperfect. 

Sing.  JS/M«j/eÔMn,  I  had  given.         Eluuyebuimi,  thou  hadst  given, 

&c. 

'  First  Future. 

Sing.  Eluan^  I  will  give.  Eluami,  thou  wilt  give,  Sec. 

Second  Future. 

Sing.  Eluuyean,    I   shall    have    Eluuyeaimi,    thou    shalt    have 
given.  given,  8cc. 

*  The  first  present  of  all  the  verbs  is  regularly  used  as  the  com  • 
pound  preterite  ;  thus  elun  signifies  I  give  and  I  have  given.  The 
second  present  is  that  which  denotes  simply  the  present  moment. 


292 
First  Mixed. 

Siug.  Ehiabun,  I  had  to  give.  Eluabuimi^  thou  hadstto  give. 

Second  Mixed. 

Sing.   £luuyeabun,   I  ought   to    Eluuyeabuimi,  thou  oughtest  t» 
have  had  to  give.  have  had  to  give,  S;c. 

IMPERATIVE    MOOD. 

Sing.  Eluchiy  let  me  give.  Dual.  Eluiju,  let  us  two  give. 

E/iiffc,  give  thou.  Elu7)n¿,  do  you  two  give 

Elujie,  let  him  give.  Elugu,  let  those  two  give. 

Plural.  Ehiign,  let  us  give. 
Elumcn^  give  ye. 
Elugen,  let  them  give. 

SUBJUNCTIVE    MOOD. 

Present  Tense. 

Sing.  Eiuli,  if  I  may  give.  Dual.  .C/w/Zw,  ifwetwomaygive. 

Elu [ ma,    if    thou    mayest  ELulmv,  if  you  two  may 

give.  give. 

Eluli.^  if  he  may  give.  Elulgn^    if  we  two  may 

give. 
Plural.  Elulign^  if  we  may  give. 
Elubnen^  if  ye  may  give. 
ELulgen^  if  we  may  give. 

Imperfect. 

Sing.  Elubuli,  if  I  might  give.        Elubulmiy  if  thou  mightestgivc, 

Sec. 

Perfect.  First  Future. 

Sing.  EluuycU^   if  I  may  have     Sing.  Eluali^  if  I  shall  give, 
given. 

Pluperfect.  Second  Future. 

Sing.    Elumjebuli^    if    I    might     Sing.  Elumjeali,  if  I  shall  have 
have  given.  given. 


293 


First  Mixed.  Second  Mixed. 

Sing.  lUuaùuU,  if  I  had  to  give.    Sint;.   £liiijcabu/i,    if    I   should 

Lave  toc-ive. 


OPTATIVE    MOOD. 

The  optative  is  formed  of  the  subjunctive,  or  of 
the  two  mixed  tenses  of  the  indicative,  with  the  de- 
siderative  particles  ve/em,  vel  or  chi  annexed,  ai> 
eluli  velem  !  God  grant  that  I  may  give  !  cluahun 
chi  !  Would  to  God  that  I  had  to  give  ! 

INFINITIVE    MOOD. 

The  affirmative  infinitive  is  not  distinguishable 
from  the  first  persons  singular  of  the  tenses  of  the 
indicative,  as  is  the  case  in  most  of  the  primitive 
languages,  and  likewise  in  the  English.  Thus  all 
the  nine  tenses  of  the  indicative  have  their  peculiar 
infinitives,  and  whenever  it  becomes  necessary  to 
make  a  distinction  between  them,  it  is  done  by  pre- 
fixing some  determinative  particle. 

ACTIVE  PARTICIPLES. 

First  Present.  Perfect. 

^lulu,  he  or  that  who  gives.  £luuye'u,  he  who  gave. 

Second  Prese?it.  Pluperfect. 

Eluquelu,  he  who  gives.  Eluuyebulu.,  he  who  had  given. 

Imperfect.  First  Future, 

£lubuhi,  he  T\'ho  did  give.  Elualu,  he  who  shall  give. 


294 

Second  Future.  First  Mixed. 

Eluuyealu^  he  who  shall  have    Eluabuluy  he  who  shall  have  to 
given.  give. 

Second  Mixed. 

Eluuyeabulu^  he  who  should  have  given. 

GERUNDS. 

First  Present.  Second  Present. 

Eluyurriy  giving.  Elual.,  for  to  give,  &c. 

Imperfect. 

Eluyubmn,  when  giving,  Sec. 

VERB   PASSIVE. 

INDICATIVE    MOOD. 
Present  Tense. 

Sing.  Elugen^  I  am  given.  Dual.  Elugeyuy    we    two    are 

Elugeimi^  thou  art  given.  given,  &c. 

Elîigei,  he  is  given. 

Imperfect. 

Elugebum^  I  was  given,    &c.  &;c. 

PARTICIPLES  PASSIVE. 

First  Present.  Imperfect, 

Elugelu,  given.  Elugebulu,  that  was  given,  &cc. 

Second  Present.  Perfect. 

Ehiel^  given.  Elubuel^  that  was  given. 


295 


IMPERSONAL  VERB. 

INDICATIVE     MOOD. 


First  Present. 

JSlua?n,  that  is  giving. 

Second  Present, 
£luc/iea?n,  that  is  giving. 

Imperfect. 

Elubuam^  that  was  giving. 

Perfect. 

JEluityeanif  that  was  given. 

Pluperfect. 
Eluuyebuamj  that  had  given. 


Pirst  Future. 

Eluayam,  that  shall  be  given. 

Second  Future. 

Eluuyeayam^    that    should    be 
given. 

First  Mixed. 

Eluabuam^  that  had  to  give. 

Second  Mixed. 

Eluuyeabuam,  that  should  have 
to  give. 


IMPERATIVE    MOOD. 
Elupeaniy  let  us  give. 

SUBJUNCTIVE    MOOD. 

Present.  Imperfect. 


Eluleam^  that  we  may  give. 


Eluhzdeam^  that  we  should  give. 


Instead  of  the  impersonal  verb,  the  third  person 
singular  of  the  passive  may  be  used  impersonally, 
in  the  manner  of  the  Latin. 

The  above  conjugation  becomes  negative  by  the 
admission  of  the  particle  la  in  the  indicative,  qui  in 
the  imperative,  which  then  takes  the  termination  of 


29Ô 

the  conjunctive,  and  no  in  the  subjunctive  and  infini- 
tive moods,  as  in  the  following  example  : 

Indicative. 

Elulan^  I  do  not  give.  ETulaimiy  thou  dost  not  give,  Ecc. 

Imperative. 

Eluquili^  let  me  not  give,  &:c. 

Subjunctive. 

iluncii,  if  I  dg  not  give,  Elwwbni,  if  thou  dost  not  give,  SiC 

Lifinitive. 

EhmoUy  not  to  give,  Sec. 

This  negative  conjugation  is  much  used  in  all 
the  verbs,  but  it  should  be  observed  that  in  using 
it  whenever  two  a's  or  any  other  monotonous  vow- 
els are  brought  together,  a  y  is  placed  between  them 
to  avoid  harshness  as  in  the  future  negative  elulayun^ 
not  to  give.  This  method  gives  rise  to  a  number 
of  very  singular  verbs  ;  as,  pilan,  I  deny  ;  gelan^  I 
am  not  ;  pelan,  I  do  not  see,  &:c.  From  hence  also 
comes  Ian,  to  die,  that  is,  to  be  nothing  ;  talan,  I 
shall  not  die. 

From  the  above  remarks,  it  will  be  seen  that  al- 
most the  whole  structure  of  the  Chilian  conjugation 
consists  in  the  use  of  the  participles,  which  may  be 
called  regulators  of  time,  as  either  singly  or  com- 
bined they  vary  and  modify  the  tenses.  They  also 
perfectly  supply  the  place  of  the  modern  auxiliary 
verbs.  Thus  the  pluperfect,  participating  of  the 
imperfectand  perfect,  is  composed  of  the  particles  of 


297 

both.  The  future  perfc-ct  is  likewise  fornied  from 
the  characteristic  particle  s  of  the  perfect  and  the  fu- 
ture, and  combines  the  signification  of  both.  The 
same  may  be  observed  with  regard  to  the  mixed, 
which  adopt  the  particles  or  augmentative  syllables 
of  those  tenses  that  approach  nearest  them  in  sig- 
nification, the  first  using  those  of  the  future  and  im- 
perfect, and  the  second  those  of  the  perfect,  the  fu- 
ture and  the  imperfect.  The  same  system,  though 
less  obvious,  occurs  with  little  variation  in  the^Latin 
conjugations,  the  pluperfect  amaveram  being  appa- 
rently composed  of  the  perfect  amavi  and  the  imper- 
fect eram,  and  amavero  of  the  same  perfect  and  the 
future  ero. 

Having  given  a  succinct  view  of  the  first  inflex- 
ions of  the  verb,  I  shall  proceed  to  notice  the  second 
in  which  it  is  equally  abundant.  Nouns  ending  in 
OR,*  are  formed  by  changing  the  final  n  of  the  infi- 
nitive into  voe  or  ve^  as  eluvoe  or  eluve^  the  giver. 
Those  implying  action  terminate  in  iie,  al^  om^  uuy 
and  W772.  The  infinitive  itself  becomes  a  noun,  as 
thecan^  signifies  both  to  pass  and  a  passage.  Those 
called  in  the  Latin  nouns  in  eilis,  are  formed  by 
the  interposition  of  the  particle  val  with  a  participle, 
as  eluYAUu,  donable,  (or  that  which  may  be  given), 
ayiiwhluj  amiable,  and  become  negatives  by  the 
farther  interposition  of  the  particle  7io,  Abstract 
nouns  are  very  frequent  and  generally  terminate  in 
gen^  as  ayuvalgen,  amiableness,  butogen,  greatness. 
The  compound  which  in  Latin  end  in  etum_,  and 

*  The  Spanish  or  Latin  termination  is  here  meant. 
Vol.  II.  P  p 


298 

Italian  in  eto,  as  cagtagne to,*  terminate  in  the 
Chilian  in  )itu  ;  rumcntu,  a  bed  of  flowers;  curantii^ 
a  place  full  of  stones  ;  mïllantu^  a  mine  of  gold. 

I'he  simple  structure  only  of  the  verb  has  hi- 
therto been  noticed.  To  point  out  the  several  com- 
binations it  admits  would  require  a  laboured  treatise, 
admitting  that  each  simple  verb  becomes,  by  its 
union  with  various  particles,  the  fertile  root  of  nu- 
nierous  other  verbs.  Of  these  particles,  there  are 
some  which  by  being  prefixed  perform  the  office  of 
the  Latin  prepositions  ;  others  are  interwoven  with 
the  verb  itself,  and  give  force  to,  or  gracefully  vary 
its  signification.  The  following  examples  of  the 
latter,  taken  from  the  numerous  derivatives  of  the 
verb  elun,,  will  su  (lice  to  explain  this  peculiar  for- 
mation. Eluden^  to  be  giving  ;  ehigiien^  to  give 
more  ;  eiuduamen^  to  wish  to  give  ;  eliijecumen^  to 
come  giving  ;  elullen^  to  give  in  earnest  ;  eluyaun^ 
to  go  giving  ;  elumen^  to  go  to  give  ;  eliimon^  to 
liave  occasion  to  give  ;  elupan^  to  come  to  give  ; 
diipen^  to  doubt  to  give  ;  elupran,  to  give  to  no  pur- 
pose ;  clupiin,  to  pass  in  giving  ;  elwquen,  to  appear 
to  give  ;  eluremim,  to  give  unexpectedly  ;  elulun^  to 
turn  to  give  ;  eliivalen^  to  be  able  to  give  ;  elumC' 
pran^  to  go  to  give  in  vain,  &c. 

Two,  three  or  more  of  these  particles,  when  com. 
bined,  form  verbs  of  such  a  length  as  to  comprehend 
an  entire  sentence,  as  iduaîw/o/avin,  I  do  not  wish  to 
eat  with  him  ;  pemcpravin^  I  went  to  see  him  in 
vain.  The  first  is  composed  of  five  distinct  words, 
in,  to  eat  ;   duan,  wish  ;    do,  \\\Ú\  ;  by  not  ;   vi,  him 

*  A  grove  of  rliC9r,ut  trees. 


299 

or  it,  and  is  conjugated  through  all  its  parts  like 
elun^  as  idiianclolavimi,  idiiamclolavi,  &.C.  This  kind 
of  elegant  compound  is  very  common  in  the  Chilian. 

Verbs  are  also  formed  by  a  happy  combination 
of  others,  as  from  ayen,  to  laugh,  and  thipan  to  go 
out,  is  derived  ayethipcm,  to  go  out  laughing  ;  qiiin- 
flugun,  to  know  how  to  talk  ;  pepimedan,  to  be  able 
to  present,  &:c.  Verbs  neuter  become  active,  and 
active  relative  by  the  use  of  the  particles  ca,  ica^  /<?, 
lel^  ma^  and  f/,  as  in  the  following  instance  ;  athum^ 
to  fatigue  one's  self;  athucan,  to  fatigue  :  gen,  la 
be  ;  geiii,  to  give  being  to  ;  jêguGîiman,  to  venerate 
him.  From  hence  it  will  readily  be  inferred,  that  the 
poetical  and  rhetorical  expressions  of  this  language 
arc  forcible  and  pathetic  ;  but,  in  order  to  be  able 
to  form  a  proper  idea  of  its  copiousness  and  ele- 
gance, it  is  necessary  to  hear  an  Araucanian  deliver 
a  public  speech. 

The  barbarous  languages  are  generally  very  deft- 
cient  in  connective  particles,  but  the  Chilian,  on  the 
contrary,  abounds  with  prepositions,  adverbs,  inter- 
jections and  conjunctions.  The  same  prepositions, 
which  in  the  Latin  arc  placed  after  the  noun  occupy 
a  similar  position  in  the  Chilian,  as  pie,  towards  ; 
ciitu,  until  ■;  via,  therefore.  The  compound  adverbs 
are  formed  by  adding  to  the  adjectives,  and  also  to 
the  verbs  gechi  or  quechi,  as  thepengechi,  cheerfully  ; 
cumequechi,  spontaneously,  &C.  These  are  ren- 
dered negative  by  the  introduction  of  the  particle 
720,  as  thepengenochi.  The  numerals  end  in  chi,  mel, 
omita  ;  as  marichi,  ten  times  ;  this  latter  adverb  is 
also  used,  as  it  was  by  the  Pytliagoreans,  in  an  un- 
limited sense,  as  marichi  ilai/an  to  eat  no  more. 


300 

The  Chilian  contains  a  variety  of  intcijections  : 
the  principal  of  wliich  are  liue^  ah  !  ///,  an  exprès- 
sion  of  joy  ;  ema.,  of  affection  ;  veicii^  of  admira- 
tion ;  (  ?<;,  of  affliction  ;  ahlthi^  of  pain  ;  iiija^  of  in- 
dignation ;  tutu'i^  of  contempt  ;  chioqiiiy  of  ridicule  ; 
sum,  of  affirmation,  &c.  Among  the  conjunctions 
are  cat,  notwithstanding  ;  chei,  cambe,  or  ;  tute, 
fume,  if  ;  cam,  am,  perhaps  ;  rume,  although  ;  ca, 
so  that;  iielu,  but;  ^é-í?/,  also  ;  c/iemmo,  because; 
mai,  yes  ;  710,  mu,  no  ;  ina-cai,  moreover  ;  deumUy 
after  that  ;  tila,  to  the  end  that.  It  contains  also 
many  expletory  particles,  as  chi,  ga,  maga,  pichita, 
cQchia,  &c. 

The  syntax  differs  not  materially  from  the  con- 
struction of  the  European  languages.  The  subject 
whether  active  or  passive  may  be  placed  either  be- 
fore or  after  the  verb.  Mi  peni  aculei,  your  brother 
has  not  q.oví\q,  or  aculei  mi  peni  are  used  indifferentl}^ 
as  are  pevin  apo,  I  have  seen  the  governor,  or  apo 
peviu.  The  genitive,  or  at  least  its  article,  is  com- 
monly placed  before  the  noun  that  governs  it.  The 
adjective  is  always  placed  before  its  substantive. 
The  articles  are  sometimes  omitted  for  the  sake  of 
brevity  or  elegance,  as  millalonco,  head  of  gold  ;  at 
other  times  they  are  used  instead  of  the  Substantive 
as  Colurnilla  agen,  the  vassals  of  Columilla. 

The  verb  is  frequently  placed  in  the  singular,  al- 
though its  proper  number  is  the  dual  or  plural,  as  is 
also  common  in  the  Greek  in  cases  of  neutral  nouns, 
^^  pu  cona  cupai,  the  soldiers  have  come.  The  aux- 
iliary added  to  the  infinitive  of  other  verbs  forms  the 
gerur.d,  as  gumangei,   he  is  weeping.     The  same 


301 

infinitive,  by  being  placed  before  the  noun  that  gov- 
erns it,  makes  a  gerund  of  the  genitive  ;  as  pin-antu^ 
it  is  the  time  of  speaking:  but  whenever  it  indicates 
motion  it  admits  the  articles  ni^  meu  or  mo,  as  721  pa- 
gitujn  cupan^  I  come  to  hunting  lions.  The  parti- 
ciple passive  is  also  employed  for  thii.  purpose  with 
the  same  articles. 

Participles  and  gerunds  are  very  frequent  in  this 
language,  or  rather,  they  occur  in  almost  every  sen- 
tence ;  whence  all  the  offices  of  the  infinitive  and  the 
relative  are  usually  performed  by  the  participle  or 
the  gerund. 

Laconism  is  the  principal  characteristic  of  the 
Chilian.  From  hence  arises  the  almost  constant 
practice  of  including  the  passive  case  in  its  verb, 
which  when  thus  combined  is  conjugated  in  ever}' 
respect  as  it  is  when  by  itself.  A  Chilian  rarely 
says  eliin  ruca^  I  give  the  house,  but  in  order  to 
express  himself  with  precision  he  will  immediately 
form  both  words  into  the  verb  elurucan^  which  sig- 
nifies the  same  thing.  They  pursue  a  similar  me- 
thod with  the  pronouns,  cluun^  I  give  myself;  cluen^ 
I  give  you  ;  eluvin,  I  give  him  or  them.  This  man- 
ner of  arranging  the  pronouns,  which  has  some  re- 
semblance to  the  Hebrew,  is  called  by  the  Chilian 
grammarians  transition.  Of  this  they  distinguish 
seven  kinds,  which  render  the  attainment  of  the  lan- 
guage very  difficult  at  first,  from  the  particularity 
that  is  requisite  to  be  observed  in  the  use  of  theni. 

From  the  same  principle  proceeds  the  no  less  sin- 
gular practice,  already  noticed,  of  converting  all  tlie 
parts  of  speech  into  verbs,  in  such  a  maimer  that  the 


502 


whole  knowledge  of  the  Chilian  language  may  be 
said  to  consist  in  the  management  of  the  verbs. 
The  relatives,  the  pronouns,  the  prepositions,  the 
adverbs,  the  numerals,  and  in  fine  all  the  other  par- 
ticles as  well  as  the  nouns  are  subject  to  this  meta- 
morpliosis,  as  chhi,  what  ?  chiumen,  what's  to  be 
done  ?  mivu^  how  many  ?  miviii^  how  many  are 
they  ?  ehnimolan^  I  have  no  occasion  for  you  ;  min- 
che^ under,  minchen^  to  be  under  ;  mel'i^  four,  meliiiy 
to  be  four  ;  í/f»^/,  more,  doin,  to  be  more  ;  vem,  like, 
vemân,  to  be  like  another. 

Proper  names  are  also  susceptible  of  this  elegance. 
Thus  from  Pedro,  is  formed  the  verb  pet7'on^  to  be 
Pedro  ;  Petrohui,  was  Pedro.  In  consequence  of 
this  singular  variation,  the  substantives  and  adjec- 
tives produce  some  very  curious  verbs  ;  as  from 
pí¿/¡i  or  pîeliîi,  the  soul,  is  derived  pullun^  to  apply 
the  whole  soul,  to  pay  the  greatest  attention  ;  in  like 
manner  from  then^  time,  comes  thenen^  to  arrive  in 
time  ;  from  re^  pure,  relen.,  to  do  only  one  thing, 
&c.  Owing  to  this  ])roperty  the  translation  of 
European  works  into  the  Chilian  is  ver)'  easy,  in 
which,  instead  of  losing  any  of  their  spirit  and  ele- 
gance, they  acquire  a  degree  of  precision  even  su- 
perior to  the  originals.  This,  among  other  instan- 
ces that  might  be  mentioned,  is  strongjv  evinced  in 
the  Christian  Thoughts  of  the  celebrated  Bouhours, 
which  was  translated  in  the  year  seventeen  hundred 
and  thirteen.  There  can  be  no  better  test  of  a  Ian- 
guage  than  its  translations,  as  its  comparative  rich- 
ness or  poverty  is  rendered  more  apparent  in  this 
mode  than  in  any  othen 


303 

Another  remarkable  property  of  the  Chilian  is 
the  frequent  use  of  abstract  words  in  a  peculiar  man- 
ner. Thus,  instead  of  saying  pu  Huïnc.a^  the  Spa- 
niards, they  commonly  say  Huincagcîi^  the  Spani- 
olity  ;  tamén  cuiagen^  your  trio,  that  is,  you  other 
three  ;  epu  tamen  cajugen  layai^  two  of  you  other 
six  will  die,  literally,  two  of  your  bixths.  The  verb 
pin^  which  signifies  to  say,  is  repeated  in  almost 
every  sentence  in  familiar  conversation,  as  is  usual 
with  the  lower  class  of  the  Bolognese  ;  "  pu  auca 
cîimegeiy  pi  ;  dachelai,  pi  ;  dagechelai  cai,  pivi?i  : 
the  Araucanians  are  good  says  he  ;  they  do  no  harm 
says  he  ;  then  they  ought  not  to  be  ill  treated  says 
he."  An  ambassador  or  messenger  always  expresses 
himself  in  the  very  words  of  those  who  send  him,  as 
was  customary  among  the  Hebrews  and  the  ancient 
Greeks, 

Many  more  reflections  might  be  made  upon  the 
simple  structure  of  this  language, but  as  these  will  rea- 
dily occur  to  those  who  have  attended  to  the  remarks 
already  made,  it  will  be  unnecessar}-  to  dvveil  longer 
upon  the  subject.  From  what  knowledge  we  possess 
of  it,  the  Chilian  appears  to  combine  the  genius  of 
the  primitive  languages  of  the  East,  with  that  of  the 
ancient  and  modern  European.  It  is  obvious  from 
its  very  structure  that  it  is  an  original  language,  and 
it  is  a  circumstance  not  a  little  remarkable,  that  it 
should  have  produced  no  particular  dialect,  notwith- 
standing it  has  extended  itself  over  a  space  of  one 
thousand  two  hundred  miles,  among  so  many  insub- 
ordinate tribes  wholly  destitute  of  all  kind  of  literary 
intercourse.     The  Chilians  who  live  in  the  24th  de- 


304 

grec  of  latitude,  speak  the  same  Iane;uage  as  the  na- 
tives of  the  45th  ;  nor  is  there  any  essential  differ- 
ence between  that  spoken  by  the  islanders,  the  moun- 
taineers, or  the  inhabitants  of  the  plains  :  the  Boroans 
and  Ilicurans  alone  sometimes  chanee  the  r  into  s. 

o 

The  Chilotes  have  adopted  several  Spanish  words, 
but  it  has  been  more  owing  to  a  wish  to  flatter  their 
masters,  than  to  any  preference  of  them  to  their  own. 
Were  the  Chilian  a  meagre  language,  its  immuta- 
bility might  be  attributed  to  its  paucity  of  words, 
which  in  such  cases,  being  intended  to  express  only 
the  most  simple  and  common  ideas,  do  not  readily 
admit  of  change  ;  but  as,  on  the  contrary,  it  abounds 
with  words,  it  is  wonderful  that  it  has  not  been  di- 
vided into  a  number  of  subordinate  dialects,  as  has 
been  the  case  with  other  primitive  languages  that 
have  been  in  any  considerable  degree  extended. 


CHILIAN  WORDS 

EXPRESSIVE    OF    NUMBER. 
Numerals. 


Quigne, 

one 

£pu. 

two 

Cula, 

three 

Meli, 

four 

Quechii. 

five 

Cayu, 

six 

Belghe, 

seven 

Para, 

eight 

Jylla, 

nine 

Mari, 

ten 

Mari-quignCf  eleven. 
Mari-efiu,    twelve,  &c. 
E/iumuri,      twenty 
Ciilamari,     thirty 
Melimari,     forty,  &c. 
Pataca,        one  hundred 
E/iupataca,  two  hundred 
C'íí/a/;c/üfa,three  hundred,&c. 
Hiiaranca,  one  thousand 
EJiuhuaranca^  two  thousand, 
&c.  &c. 


505 


Adverbs. 

Quignechi,  Quignemel,  Quignemita^  once. 
Ejiuchi^  Ejiumalf  Ep.umetay  twice,  &c. 

•    Ordinals. 

Unen,  Unelelu,  Quignclelu,  Quignegetu,  Quignegentu,  Quig' 
nenfu,  once. 
£/iulelu,  EpugelU)  E/mgentu,  E/iuntu,  See.  twice. 

Distributives. 

Calique,  Mollquigne.,  one  by  one. 
Efiuqucy  AlollepUy  two  by  two. 

Verbs. 

Quignen,  to  be  one  :  Qiagnelian,  to  join;  E/iu7i,   to  be  two, 
8cc.  &c. 

Abstracts, 

Quignegeny  unity  ;  Epugen,  duality  ;  Culagen,  trinity,  &c. 


Indejinites. 


QuigndquC'j  several  ;   E/nilgen,  about  two  ;    Culalque,  about 
three. 


Vol.  II.  Q  q 


CORRECTIONS  AND  ADDITIONS. 


■m  ^m. 


Page9,  line  12,/oj' "  view"  ?ví7t/ intent. 

10  IS,  for  "  Cuchapoal"  read  Cachapoal. 

13  20,  dele  "  we." 

14  20,  for  "  land"  read  lands. 
43  14,  for  ^' 1564"  read  1544. 
45  l~,/or  "  1S46"  read  1548. 
67  ]9,  dele  "so." 

91  4,  for  "  of  the  Scalds  and"  read  and  the  Scalds  of. 

114  3  and  13, /br  "  Aillavalu"  read  Aiilavilu. 

115  14,  yb?' "  them"  j-fci/ the  fugitives. 
125            Z2,for  "they"  read  the  Spaniards. 

129  8,  dele  "  old." 

130  21,  for  "  who  unquestionably  possessed"  read  unques- 

tionably possessed  of. 

135  28,  for  "  that"  read  than. 

136  22,  dele  "  Nevertheless." 

141  26,  for  "  undertakings"  read  attempts. 

146  32,  for  "  he  had  freed  himself"  read  that  death  had 

freed  him. 

147  2,  for  "  his  country"  read  it  to  freedom. 
157            23,  dels  "  large." 

172  10,  for  "  they  killed  about  forty,  and"  read  about  forty 

were  killed  by  the  Araucanians,  who. 
12,  for  "  the  retreat  of  the  Araucanians,"  read  their 
retreat. 
184  ^■)for  "  the"  read  this. 

197  13,  after  "  It  is"  ¿n.sí"rí  however. 

198  32,  for  "  their"  read  these. 
200  6,  after  "  moon"  insert  rising. 
207  2,  for  "  garrison"  rcai/  garrisons. 
223            32,  dele  "  the." 

244  1,  dele  semicolon  and  insert  comma. 

265  11,  dele  "  as  has  been  already  mentioned." 

272  6,  (note)./br  "  dishonours"  7-caf/ dishonour. 

272  22,  (note)yor  "prompts"  7-i-ad prompt. 

280  26,  (note)  dele  "  (tobacco)." 

289  24,  ybr  "  want"  read  wants. 

26, /or  "  adjective"  read  adjective». 


AN 


APPENDIX 


TO  THE 


CIVIL    AND    POLITICAL 

HISTORY  OF  CHILI, 


CONSISTING   OF 


A  SKETCH  OF  THE  ARAUCANA 

OF 

DON  ALONZO  DE  ERCILLA, 

WITH     COPIOUS    TRANSLATIONS     FROM    THAT      POEM,      BY 
WILLIAM  HAYLEY,  ESQj    AND  THE  REV.  H.  BOYD. 


J^EW-YORK , 


PUBLISHED    BY  ALSOP,    BRANNAN  AND  ALSOP, 
CITY-HOTEL,    BROADWAY. 

180& 


Printed  by  Richard  Alsop, 
Middlelown,  Connecticut. 


ADVERTISEMENT. 


The  subject  of  the  Araucana  being  so  immedi- 
ately connected  with  the  preceding  history,  the 
translators  have  believed  that  extracts  from  some  of 
the  most  striking  passages  in  that  celebrated  poem 
could  not  fail  of  proving  highly  acceptable  to  a  con- 
siderable portion  of  readers.  This  consideration, 
together  with  that  of  the  poem  being  in  many  re- 
spects elucidatory  of  the  history,  has  induced  them 
to  add  the  following  sketch,  selected  from  Hay  ley's 
Notes  to  his  Essay  on  Epic  Poetry,  excepting  the 
third  and  fourth  cantos,  which  are  principally  taken 
from  a  Specimen  of  a  Translation  of  the  Araucana, 
by  the  Rev.  H.  Boyd,  the  well  known  translator  of 
Dante. 

The  Araucana,  justly  esteemed  one  of  the  first 
epic  poems  of  Spain,  claims  a  distinguished  rank 
in  the  scale  of  poetic  excellence;  it  possesses,  more- 
over, the  singular  advantage  of  being  an  historical 
record  of  a  war  in  which  the  poet  was  himself  en- 
gaged, and  an  eye-witness  of  many  of  the  incidents. 
The  author,  Don  Alonzo  de  Ercilla  di  Zuniga,  was 
born  of  an  illustrious  family  in  Madrid,  in  1535. 
He  was  appointed  page  to  the  Prince  Don  Philip, 
and,  at  the  age  of  fourteen,  accompanied  him  in 
the  splendid  visit  v,'hich,  at  the  desire  of  the  empe- 
ror his  father,  he  paid  to  the  principal  cities  of  Ger- 


IV 

many  and  the  Netherlands.  A  few  years  after  his 
return,  he  attended  his  master  to  London,  on  occa- 
sion of  the  marriage  of  that  monarch  with  Queen 
Mary  of  England  in  the  year  1754.  While  there, 
Philip  having  received  information  from  America  of 
the  revolt  of  the  Araucanians,  Ercilla  adopted  the 
profession  of  arms,  and  embarked  for  Chili  under 
Alderete,  an  experienced  officer,  who  was  appointed 
to  command  the  expedition.  Alderete  died  on  the 
passage,  and  Ercilla  proceeded  to  Lima,  from  whence 
he  marched  against  the  Araucanians  under  the  com- 
mand of  Don  Garcia,  son  to  the  viceroy  of  Peru, 
and  greatly  signalized  himself  in  the  battles  that  en- 
sued. At  this  time  hé  formed  the  design  of  render- 
ing the  war,  in  which  he  was  himself  an  actor,  the 
subjct  of  an  epic  poem;  and,  in  the  short  intervals 
of  his  military  leisure,  applied  himself  to  the  execu- 
tion of  this  pían  with  unremitting  industry.  At 
length,  inconsequence  of  being  committed  to  prison 
on  a  charge  of  mutiny  in  a  quarrel  with  another  young 
Spanish  officer,  he  quitted  the  army  in  disgust,  and 
returned  to  Spain. 

Ercilla  wrote  many  other  poems;  but  the  work 
that  has  immortalized  his  name  is  the  Araucana, 
styled  by  Cervantes,  in  his  Don  Quixote,  one  of  the 
choicest  treasures  of  the  Castilian  Muse. 


A  SKETCH 


OF 


THE  ARAUCANA, 


A  HE  Poem  opens  with  the  following  exposition  of  the  subject: 

I  SING  not  love  of  ladies,  nor  of  sights 
Devis'd  for  gentle  dames  by  courteous  knights  ; 
Nor  feasts,  nor  tourneys,  nor  that  tender  care 
Which  prompts  the  Gallant  to  regale  the  Fair  ; 
But  the  bold  deeds  of  Valour's  fav'rite  train, 
Those  undegenerate  sons  of  warlike  Spain, 
Who  made  Arauco  their  stern  laws  embrace, 
And  bent  beneath  their  yoke  her  untam'd  race. 
Of  tribes  distinguish'd  in  the  field  I  sing; 
Of  nations  who  disdain  the  name  of  King; 
Courage,  that  danger  only  taught  to  grow. 
And  challenge  honour  from  a  generous  foe; 
And  persevering  toils  of  purest  fame, 
And  feats  that  aggrandize  the  Spanish  name: 
For  the  brave  actions  of  the  vanquibh'd  spread 
The  brightest  glory  round  the  victor's  head. 

The  Poet  devotes  his  first  Canto  to  the  description  of  that  part 
of  the  New  World  which  forms  the  scene  of  his  action,  and  is 
called  Arauco,  a  district  in  the  province  of  Chile.  He  paints  the 
singular  character  and  various  customs  of  its  warlike  inhabitants 
with  great  clearness  and  spirit.  In  many  points  they  bear  a  strik- 
ing resemblance  to  the  ancient  Germans,  as  they  are  drawn  by 
the  strong  jjencil  of  Tacitus.  The  first  Canto  closes  with  a  brief 
account  how  this  martial  pi  evince  v/as  subdued  by  a  Spanish  oñi- 


cer  named  Valdivia;  -with  an-intimation  that  his  negligence  in  his 
new  dominion  gave  birth  to  those  important  exploits  which  the 
Poet  proposes  to  celebrate. 


CANTO  II. 

MANY  there  are  who,  in  this  mortal  strife, 
Have  reach'd  the  slippery  heights  of  splendid  life 
For  Fortune's  ready  hand  its  succour  lent; 
Smiling  she  rais'd  them  up  the  steep  ascent, 
To  hurl  them  headlong  from  that  lofty  seat 
To  which  she  led  their  unsuspecting  feet  ; 
E'en  at  the  moment  when  all  fears  disperse, 
And  their  proud  fancy  sees  no  sad  reverse. 
Little  they  think,  beguil'd  by  fair  success, 
That  Joy  is  but  the  herald  of  Distress  : 
The  hasty  wing  of  Time  escapes  their  sight. 
And  those  dark  evils  that  attend  his  flight  : 
Vainly  they  dream,  with  gay  presumption  warm, 
Fortune  for  them  will  take  a  steadier  form; 
She,  unconcern'd  at  Vr-hather  victims  feel, 
Turns  with  her  wonted  haste  her  fatal  wheel. 

The  Indians  first,  by  novelty  dismay'd. 
As  Gods  rever'd  us,  and  as  Gods  obey'd; 
But  when  they  found  we  were  of  woman  born, 
Their  homage  turn'd  to  enmity  and  scorn  : 
Their  childish  error  when  our  weakness  show'd, 
They  blush 'd  at  what  their  ignorance  bestow'd; 
Fiercely  they  burnt  with  anger  and  with  shame, 
To  see  thtir  masters  but  of  mortal  frame. 
Disdaining  cold  and  cowai-dly  delay, 
They  seek  atonement,  on  no  distant  day  : 
Prompt  and  lesolv'd,  in  quick  debate  they  join, 
To  form  cf  deep  revei.ge  their  dire  design. 
Impatient  that  their  bold  decree  should  spread, 
And  shake  the  world  around  with  sudden  dread, 
Th'  assembling  Ciiití"tHÍná  led  so  large  a  train. 
Their  ready  hoH  o'erspread  th'  extendi ve  plain. 
No  summons  now  the  soldier's  heart  requires  ; 
The  thirt,t  of  battle  every  breast  inspires; 


No  pay,  no  promise  of  reward,  they  ask, 

Keen  to  accomplish  their  spontaueous  task  ; 

And,  by  the  force  of  one  avenging  blow, 

Crush  and  annihilate  their  foreign  foe. 

Of  some  brave  Chiefs,  av1>o  to  this  council  came, 

Well  may 'st  thou.  Memory,  preserve  the  name; 

Tho'  rude  and  savage,  yet  of  noble  soul. 

Justly  they  claim  their  place  on  Glory's  roll, 

Who  robbing  Spain  of  many  a  gallant  son, 

In  so  confin'd  a  space  such  victories  won  ; 

Whose  fame  some  living  Spaniards  yet  may  spread, 

Too  well  attested  by  our  warlike  dead. 

The  Poet  proceeds  to  mention  the  principal  Chieftains,  and  the 
number  of  their  respective  vassals. 

Tucapel  stands  first  ;  renowned  for  the  most  inveterate  enmity 
to  the  Christians,  and  leader  of  three  thousand  vassals  :  Angol,  a 
valiant  youth,  attended  by  four  thousand:  Cayocupil,  with  three  ; 
and  Millarapue,  an  elder  chief,  with  five  thousand  :  Paycabi,  with 
three  thousand  ;  and  Lemolemo,  with  six  :  Maregnano,  Gualemo, 
andLebopia,  with  three  thousand  each  :  Elicura,  distinguished  by- 
strength  of  body  and  detestation  of  servitude,  with  six  thousand  ; 
and  the  ancient  Colocólo,  with  a  superior  number  :  Ongolmo, 
with  four  thousand  ;  and  Puren,  with  six  :  the  fierce  and  gigantic 
Lincoya  with  a  still  larger  train.  Peteguelen,  Lord  of  the  valley 
of  Arauco,  prevented  from  personal  attendance  by  the  Christians, 
dispatches  six  thousand  of  his  retainers  to  the  asssembly  ;  the  most 
distinguished  of  his  party  are  Thome  and  Andalican.  The  Lord 
of  the  maritime  province  of  Pilmayquen,  the  bold  Caupolican,  is 
also  unable  to  appear  at  the  opening  of  the  council. 

The  valley  where  they  met  for  their  consultations  is  thus  de- 
scribed by  Alonzo,  who  probably  had  seen  it  : 

In  an  umbrageous  vale  the  seniors  meet, 
Embosom'd  deep  in  woods,  a  cool  retreat, 
Where  gentle  Flora  sheds  her  annual  blooms, 
And  with  her  fragrant  scents  the  air  perfumes. 
The  sweet  perfumes  the  Zepliyrs  waft  away, 
Deep  whispering  through  the  groves  in  wanton  play  ; 
And  to  the  limpid  stream  that  purls  below 
The  rising  gales  in  solemn  concert  blow. 


Here,  in  a  sylvan  theatre,  they  find 
An  ample  space,  where  all  their  tribes  combined 
Could  meet  at  large  to  banquet,  or  debate 
In  graver  mood  the  business  of  the  State. 
Th'  assembling  clans  within  this  bowery  scene 
Repose,  where  scarce  a  fiery  shaft  between 
From  Phœbus  can  descend,  so  close  above 
The  hand  of  Summer  weaves  the  solemn  grove. 

As  they  begin  their  business  in  the  style  of  the  ancient  Germans, 
with  a  plentiful  banquet,  they  soon  grow  exasperated  with  liquor, 
and  a  violent  quarrel  ensues  concerning  the  command  of  the  forces 
for  the  projected  war  ;  an  honour  which  almost  every  Chieftain 
is  arrogant  enought  to  challenge  for  himself.  In  the  midst  of 
thh  turbulent  debate,  the  ancient  Colocólo  delivers  the  following 
harangue,  which  Voltaire  prefers  to  the  speech  of  Nestor,  on  a 
similar  occasion,  in  the  first  Iliad  : 

"  Assembled  Chiefs  !  ye  guardians  of  the  land  I 
Think  not  I  mourn  from  thirst  of  lost  command, 
To  find  your  rival  spirits  thus  pursue 
A  post  of  honour  which  I  deem  my  due. 
These  marks  of  age,  you  see,  such  thoughts  disown 
In  me,  departing  for  the  world  unknown  ; 
But  my  warm  love,  which  ye  have  long  possest, 
_J^ow  prompts  that  counsel  which  you'll  find  the  best. 
Wliy  should  Ave  now  for  marks  of  glory  jar? 
Why  wish  to  spread  our  martial  name  afar  ? 
Crush'd  as  we  are  by  Fortune's  cruel  stroke, 
And  bent  beneath  an  ignominious  yoke, 
111  can  our  minds  such  noble  pride  maintain. 
While  the  fierce  Spaniard  holds  our  galling  chain. 
Your  generous  fury  here  ye  vainly  show  ; 
Ah  !  rather  pour  it  on  th'  embattled  foe  ! 
What  frenzy  has  your  souls  of  sense  bereav'd  ? 
Ye  rush  to  self-perdition,  unperceiv'd. 
'Gainst  your  own  vitals  would  ye  lift  those  hands, 
Whose  vigour  ought  to  burst  oppression's  bands? 

"  If  a  desire  of  death  this  rage  create, 
O  die  not  yet  in  this  disgraceful  state  ! 
Turn  your  keen  arms,  and  this  indignant  flame, 
Against  the  breast  of  those  who  sink  your  fame. 
Who  made  the  world  a  witness  of  your  shame. 


} 


Haste  ye  to  cast  these  hated  bonds  away, 
In  this  the  vigour  of  your  souls  display  ; 
Nor  blindly  lavish,  from  your  country's  veins, 
Blood  that  may  yet  redeem  her  from  her  chains. 

"  E'en  while  I  thus  lament,  I  still  admire 
The  fervour  of  your  souls  ;  they  give  me  fire  ^ 
But  justly  trembling  at  their  fatal  bent, 
I  dread  some  dire  calamitous  event  ; 
Lest  in  your  rage  Dissension's  frantick  hand 
Should  cut  the  sinews  of  our  native  land. 
If  such  its  doom,  my  thread  t.f  being  burst, 
And  let  your  old  compeer  expire  the  first! 
Shall  this  shrunk,  frame,  thus  bow'd  by  age's  weight, 
Live  the  weak  witness  of  a  nation's  fate  ? 
No:  let  some  friendly  sword,  with  kind  relief, 
Forbid  its  shiking  in  that  scene  of  grief. 
Happy  whose  eyes  in  timely  darkness  close, 
Sav'd  from  that  worst  of  sights,  his  country's  woes  Î 
Yet,  while  I  can,  I  inake  your  weal  my  care, 
And  for  the  publick  good  my  thoughts  declare. 

"  Equal  ye  are  in  courage  and  in  worth  j 
Heaven  has  assign 'd  to  all  an  equal  birth  : 
In  wealth,  in  power,  and  majesty  of  soul. 
Each  Chief  seems  worthy  of  the  world's  control. 
These  gracious  gifts,  not  gratefully  beheld, 
To  this  dire  strife  your  daring  minds  impell'd. 

"  But  on  your  generous  valour  T  depend, 
That  ail  our  country's  woes  will  swiftly  end. 
A  Leader  still  our  present  state  demands, 
To  guide  to  vengeance  our  impatient  bands  ; 
Fit  for  this  hardy  task  that  Chief  I  deem. 
Who  longest  may  sustain  a  massive  beam  : 
Your  rank  is  equal,  let  your  force  be  try'd 
And  for  the  strongest  let  his  strengih  decide," 

The  Chieftains  acquiesce  in  this  proposal.  The  beam  is  pro- 
duced, and  of  a  size  so  enormous,  that  the  Poet  declai  es  himself 
afraid  to  specify  its  weight.  The  first  Chieftains  who  engage  in 
the  trial  support  it  en  their  shoulders  five  and  six  hours  each  ; 
Tucapel  fourteen  ;  and  Lincoya  more  than  double  that  number  ; 
when  the  assembly,  considering  his  strength  as  almost  supernatu- 
ral, is  eager  to  bestow  on  him  the  title  of  General  :  but  in  the 

Vol.  il  b 


10 

moment  he  is  exulting  in  this  nev,"   honour,  Caupolican  arrives 
■without  attendants. 

Though  from  his  birth  one  darken'd  eye  he  drew, 
(Tha  viewless  orb  was  of  the  granite's  hue) 
Nature,  who  partly  robb'd  him  of  his  sight, 
Repaid  this  failure  by  redoubled  might. 
Tliis  noble  youth  was  of  the  highest  state  ; 
His  actions  honour'd,  and  his  words  of  weight  :  • 
Prompt  and  resolv'd  in  every  generous  cause, 
A  friend  to  Justice  anci  her  sternest  laws  : 
Fashion 'd  for  sudden  feats,  or  toils  of  length, 
His  limbs  possess'd  both  suppleness  and  strengths 
Dauntless  his  mind,  determin'd  and  adroit 
In  every  quick  and  hazardous  exploit 

This  accomplished  Chieftain  is  received  with  great  joy  by  the 
assembly  ;  and,  having  surpassed  Lincoya  by  many  degrees  in  the 
trial,  is  invested  with  the  supreme  command.  He  dispatches  a 
small  party  to  attack  a  neighbouring  Spanish  fort  :  they  execute 
his  orders,  and  make'  a  vigorous  assault.  After  a  sharp  conflict 
they  are  repulsed  ;  but  in  the  moment  of  their  retreat  Caupolican 
arrives  with  his  army  to  their  support.  The  Spaniards  in  despair 
evacuate  the  fort,  and  make  their  escape  in  the  oight  :  the  news 
is  brought  to  Valdivia,  the  Spanish  Commander  in  the  city  of 
Conception  ;  and  with  his  resolution  to  punish  the  Bai'barians  the 
canto  concludes. 


CANTO  m. 

O  thirst  of  gold  1  disease  without  a  cure  ! 
What  toils  thy  persevering  slaves  endure  ! 
Thou  common  vice,  whose  long,  tenacious  spell, 
The  noblest  energies  of  mind  can  quell  ! 
Thy  deadly  charms  the  human  soul  unbind 
From  Heaven,  and  let  her  drive  before  the  wind. 

Thou  public  foe  !  insatiate  as  the  tomb, 
A  dropsy's  rage  distends  thy  craving  womb  ; 
From  thee  those  countless  ills  derive  their  source, 
Thnt  deluge  ail  the  world  with  headlong  course  : 


11 


Dîsguis'd  by  thee,  the  pomp  of  state  appear» 
A  troubled  journey  thro'  a  vale  of  tears  ; 
Thou  bidst  the  peasant  wail  his  luckless  lot, 
And  spurn  the  blessings  of  his  pcAceful  cot. 
Each  morning  from  Potosi's  sunless  caves, 
Five  toiling  myriads  of  devoted  slaves, 
Five  golden  marks  for  each  incessant  bore, 
To  proud  Valdivia,  yet  he  long'd  for  more  : 
Tho'  wealthy,  still  in  want,  by  sloth  betray'd, 
And  love  of  gold,  he  in  his  mines  delay'd. 
Till  from  the  potent  grasp  of  mighty  Spain, 
The  land  wasrescu'd  with  its  num'rous  train  ; 
By  him  in  evil  hour,  these  vales  were  found 
So  long  conceal'd  within  the  southern  bound  ; 
For  him  Bellona  stretch'd  her  sway  afar, 
Follow'd  by  dire  Oppression,  worse  than  War  ; 
Till  rous'd  to  rage,  with  unsuppressive  might, 
The  hardy  Araucanians  claim'd  their  light, 
And  all  the  rigours  of  unlawful  sway, 
Call'd  forth  those  powers  that  held  her  rage  at  bay. 
How  well  in  calm  prosperity  we  know 
Due  counsel  on  the  wretched  to  bestow  ! 
And  much  the  fruitless  theoiy  we  prize, 
Tho'  for  ourselves  the  practice  we  despise. 
How  learn'd  we  seem  beneath  the  tranquil  shade, 
In  every  chance  of  warfare's  deadly  trade  ! 
With  what  keen  scorn  the  favourites  of  the  sky 
Survey  their  brethren  in  adversity  ; 
And  as  they  stumble  in  the  vale  of  Death, 
Censure  attends  them  through  the  slippery  path  ; 
Still  judging  by  th'  event  ;  but  Heaven  alone. 
By  whose  just  hand  the  lots  of  life  are  thrown. 
Can  tell  why  some  are  wreck'd  on  Fortune's  sleep, 
While  others  sail  secure  the  smiling  deep. 
Led  on  by  fates  adverse,  Valdivia  past 
In  long  disastrous  march  the  lonely  waste. 
Not  with  such  headlong  and  ungovern'd  speed, 
As  late  he  us'd  his  haughty  bands  to  lead, 
For  sad  presages  of  impending  doom, 
O'er  his  sick  fancy  hung  unusual  gloona. 


13 


His  bands  he  led  in  order  thro'  the  shadç, 
As  if  he  fear'd  a  springing  ambuscade. 
Couriers  he  sent  before,  with  timely  speed. 
To  try  the  passes,  and  the  war  to  lead, 
Andnam'd  a  place  to  meet.     The  tangled  dell 
They  past,  but  ne'er  return'd  their  doom  to  tell. 

Now  at  the  rendezvous  arriv'd,  they  stood 
To  wait  their  spies  returning  from  the  wood. 
While,  as  the  time  drew  on,  in  every  breast 
Contending  hope  and  doubt  the  soul  o])prest 
Nor  long  the  heroes  stood  in  s.'ige  debate, 
But  allât  length  resolv'd  to  share  their  fate, 
Whether  by  Heaven's  behest  they  scap'd  the  snare, 
Or  fell  the  victims  of  insidious  war  ; 
And  tho'  a  falt'ring  pause  the  boldest  felt, 
Yet  no  presage  their  high  resolve  could  melt  ; 
On  their  good  falchions,  oft  in  battle  try'd, 
And  strenuous  arms  the  gallant  bands  rely'd. 

Scarce  two  short  leagues  along  the  glade  they  move, 
When,  midst  the  dark  funereal  boughs  above, 
Hung  by  their  gory  locks,  aloft  were  seen, 
Their  comrades'  heads  above  the  hostile  green  ; 
Or  fix'd  on  pales  within  the  deadly  pass, 
Glar'd  on  their  friends  with  formidable  grace. 
Mute  with  surprise,  but  firm  andunsubdu'd, 
In  solemn  gaze  awhile  the  soldiers  stood, 
But  stood  not  long,  for  Fury  soon  began 
To  rouse  to  deeds  of  blood  the  hardy  clan. 
Storming  with  rage,  and  cursing  dull  delay» 
They  call  their  Captains  on  to  lead  the  way. 
Their  Lord,  who  savii  the  future  in  the  past, 
Stood  silent  for  a  space,  and  try'd  at  last. 
Calmly,  with  look  sedate,  and  temper  cool, 
The  dangerous  ardour  of  the  train  to  rule. 
"  Ye  gallant  Champions  of  the  Ci-oss,"  he  cry'd, 
"  Be  firm,  be  fearless,  but  let  reason  guide. 
You  see  our  bold  rebellious  slaves  display, 
Their  hostile  ensigns  in  the  face  of  day, 
Triumphant  over  broken  faith  they  rise, 
And  spurn  their  oaths,  recorded  in  the  skies; 
We  hear  their  deadly  trumpet's  angry  sound. 
We  spy  the  flames  of  Discord  kindling  round» 


13 


And  know  what  lives  ^vere  lavislj'd  to  subdue. 
And  bend  beneath  our  laws  the  savage  crew  : 
When  Fortune  led  us  en,  with  conqu'iing  arn.s, 
Thro'  paths  of  deadly  guile,  and  fierce  ahirnis, 
This  ground  was  often  drunk  with  hostile  gore, 
That  bought  our  triumphs  on  this  fatal  bhoi  c  : 
But  dangers  new  our  sagest  counsels  claim, 
To  guard  the  glories  of  the  Spavii.sh  name. 
Inveterate  Hate,  by  habit  nurst,  you  know. 
And  scorn  of  life  inspires  the  savage  foe  ; 
And,  should  we  fail,  their  pride,  despising  bound, 
Would  Hame  defiance  to  the  world  around. 
This  gives  me  pause,  nor  can  my  anxious  ey 
The  safer  path  in  this  dilemma  spy." 

Fermenting  courage  in  eachboscm  flam'd 
Of  those  bold  youths,  by  evil  yet  untam'd, 
And  native  valour  beam'd  in  every  eye  : 
"  Let  us  but  see  them  once,"  aloud  they  cry  ; 
"  Let  ten  of  us  be  nam'd  to  face  the  foe, 
W^e'll  force  the  post,  and  lay  their  standard  low. 
We  know  not  fear,  nor  be  it  ever  told 
That  dastard  dread  our  inborn  worth  controU'd  ; 
Our  taintless  honour  deprecates  the  thought, 
That,  by  retreat,  a  moment's  life  Avere  bought. 
One  faltering  motion,  one  retiring  pace, 
Would  shade  our  long  renown  with  deep  disgrace. 
No,  let  us  with  undaunted  march  proceed. 
We  dare  to  follow,  if  you  choose  to  lead." 
Valdivia's  burning  cheek  the  pangs  confest 
Of  shame  and  honour,  struggling  in  his  breast. 
Ill-fated  Chief!  the  dire  effect  ycu  saw 
Of  youthful  rage  that  spurn'd  at  Reason's  law  ; 
The  keen  and  venom'd  shaft  of  causeless  blame, 
You,  like  a  Warrior,  felt  with  honest  shame  ; 
False  honour  o'er  your  better  sense  prevail'd. 
The  Soldier  triumph'd,  but  the  General  fail'd: 
You  rather  wish'd  to  sink  among  the  slain, 
Than  soil  your  honour  with  the  sliglitesi  stain  ! 

While  thus  revenge  and  war  the  soldier»  vow'd, 
A  friendly  Indian,  from  the  martial  crowd 
Sprung  forth,  and  to  Valdivia  thus  exclaim'd: 
"  O  mighty  Chief,  in  many  a  combat  fam'd,. 


14 

Recaí  the  word,  nor  try  that  dang'rous  way, 
Full  twice  ten  thousand  foes,  in  dread  array, 
Cover  the  plains  of  Tucapel  afar, 
Confederate  all,  impatient  for  the  war  ; 
All  bound  in  solemn  oaths  to  meet  their  doom, 
And  purchase  freedom,  or  a  glorious  tomb." 

At  this  report,  a  cold  sensation  ])ast 
O'er  every  bosom  like  a  wintry  blast  ; 
The  King  of  Terrors  seem'd  to  stalk  around, 
And  every  shuddering  heart  his  presence  found  : 
The  noble  Chieftain,  unappall'd  alone. 
Beheld  them  blanch,  and  thus  in  angry  tone  : 
"  What  !  do  ye  falter  ere  you  sec  the  foe  ! 
Be  constant,  or  the  soldier's  name  forego  !" 
Then  with  a  look  that  spoke  a  wounded  mind, 
He  spurj*'d  his  courser  on  :  the  crowd  behind 
The  damp  contagion  from  their  souls  expell'd, 
And  dauntless  follow'd  o'er  the  dusty  field. 
Soon  Tucapel's  retiring  heights  display 
The  fatal  champain  to  the  face  of  day. 
The  fortress  first  their  wond'ring  eyes  survey'd, 
Late  a  proud  pile,  but  now  in  ruin  laid. 
"  O  noble  friends  I"  aloud  the  General  cry'd, 
"  Those  walls  I  thought  the  utmost  force  defy'd 
Of  hostile  rage,  but  see  how  low  they  lie, 
A  spectacle  of  ruin  to  the  sky  ! 
Tlie  deadly  foe  in  arms  we  soon  shall  meet, 
No  friendly  castle  here  affords  retreat  ; 
On  our  good  swords  alone  we  now  depend 
To  purchase  conquest,  or  a  glorious  end." 
While  thus  he  strove  their  gallant  hearts  to  warm, 
A  distant  rumour,  like  a  gathering  storm. 
Broke  on  th'  unfinish'd  word  ;  and  soon  were  seen, 
Innumerous  spears,  thick  glancing  o'er  the  green, 
Brandish'd  by  hostile  hands  ;  while  all  around 
Was  heard  this  dire  salute,  with  sullen  sound  : 
"  Robbers  !  advance,  and  with  your  blood  repay 
The  wrongs  we  bore  beneath  your  deadly  sway  ; 
Your  lands  and  lives  you  now  must  leave  behind. 
Your  deadly  sentence  Fate  at  last  has  sign'd.'' 
The  General  saw  that  now  the  hour  was  come, 
That  nought  but  viilour  could  decide  their  doom, 


15 


Then  bade  a  Chieftain  with  his  troops  invade 

A  squadron  of  the  foe,  whose  files  disphiy'd 

A  scantier  depth  :  the  noble  Spaniard  flew 

Like  bolted  fire  against  the  hostile  crew. 

From  Mareande's  hills  the  warriors  came, 

Second  to  none  in  military  fame  ; 

To  meet  the  shock  before  the  hostile  band 

The  hardy  pikemcn  in  close  order  stand. 

Soon,  at  the  lightning  of  the  lifted  spear, 

The  serried  files  divide  from  van  to  reai". 

And  let  the  Spaniards  pass  ;  then  hemm'd  behind 

The  luckless  foe,  as  in  a  net  confin'd  ; 

Who,  buried  in  the  hostile  crowd  afar, 

Soon  disappear'd  amid  the  mingling  war. 

Thus  the  fell  crocodile,  in  ambush  laid. 
When  finny  shoals  his  secret  haunt  invade. 
While  troubling  the  clear  stream  they  sport  along. 
With  mighty  jaws  engulphs  the  heedless  throng, 
Then  closing  his  wide  mouth  with  eager  haste, 
Battens  at  leisure  on  the  rich  repast  ; 
So  our  thin  squadron  soon  to  sight  was  lost 
Among  the  numbers  of  the  savage  host  ; 
Nor  one  escap'd  of  that  distinguish'd  few 
Who  first  in  arms  assail'd  the  hostile  crew. 

Now  the  loud  trumpet  gave  the  fatal  sign, 
Slow  mov'd  the  mighty  Araucanian  line  ; 
And  now  they  bend  their  shadowy  wings  to  close 
In  one  gigantick  sweep  their  gallant  foes. 
Valdivia,  yet,  by  no  example  wise, 
That  instant  to  an  hardy  leader  cries. 
With  a  bold  voluntary  band  to  face 
The  foe,  that  now  advanc'd  with  steady  pace. 
Twice  five  were  only  found  that  dar'd  to  brave 
Their  fate,  and  seek,  by  wounds,  a  glorious  grave  : 
They,  spurring  on  their  steeds,  with  Icosen'd  reia 
Met  with  a  mighty  shock  the  pagan  train. 
Nine  spears  at  once  were  dy'd  in  hostile  gore, 
One  only  left  his  steed,  to  rise  no  more. 
Pierc'd  with  barbarian  shafts  the  soldier  lay, 
And  breath'd  in  mortal  pangs  his  soul  away. 

Tiiro'  ranks  of  death  the  nine  bold  biethren  rode, 
And  drench'd  the  summer  sands  with  hostile  blocd; 


lô 


Rut  after  many  a  proof  of  matchless  might, 
They  fell  successive  in  th'  unfiiiish'd  fight  ; 
Mangled  with  wounds,  the  noble  youths  resign 'd 
Their  souls,  but  vengeance  v/as  not  left  behind. 
For  e'er  they  fell  themselves,  their  deadly  blades 
Sent  their  destroyers  to  the  Stygian  shades. 
But  now  the  dreadful  trump  of  Spain  afar 
Pour  d  on  the  startled  ear  the  blast  of  war  ; 
With  vizors  clos'd,  and  every  lance  in  rest, 
The  hardy  Spaniards  to  the  combat  prest. 
In  four  light  squadrons  form'd,  the  gallant  van 
Springing  in  full  career,  the  fight  began  ; 
Backward  recoil'd  the  battle  of  the  foe, 
And  soon  barbarian  blood  was  seen  to  flow. 
Lopp'd  arms,  and  mangled  limbs,  their  triumphs  told. 
And  heads  and  headless  trunks  at  random  roll'd  : 
Nor  stood  the  foe  agliast,  but  soon  return'd 
In  force,  and  o'er  the  field  the  battle  burn'd. 
Nov/  van  to  van  they  meet  with  mortal  blows. 
And  Death  alternate  feasts  on  friends  and  foes  ; 
Yet  each  disdains  a  thought  of  dastard  flight, 
And  on  his  single  arm  relies  in  fight  : 
The  meadows,  late  in  cheerful  green  array'd, 
To  the  sad  eyes  a  sanguine  tint  display'd  ; 
Still  the  dii'e  clang  of  arms  incessant  rung, 
And  Death  above  his  sable  ensign  hung  ; 
Viewing  v/ith  horrid  glee  the  shatter'd  brain, 
Or  the  v/arm  bowels  gushing  on  the  plain  ; 
Or  gory  head,  that,  as  it  roU'd  alongé 
Scem'd  with  convulsive  glare  to  view  the  throng, 
Rolling  in  blood  its  ghastly  eyes  around, 
V'/hilc  the  fallen  body  sj>ura'd  the  sanguine  ground. 
'Í  "!ic  blood-stain'd  sabres,  glancing  to  and  fro, 
füeam'd  like  red  lightning  o'er  the  field  below  ; 
And  oft  as  vigour  fail'd,  by  steadfast  hate 
Inspired,  they  still  prolong'd  the  stern  debate. 
None  situnn'd,  nor  wibh'dtoshmi,  his  deadly  doom. 
Nor  sought  repose  butin  the  yawning  tomb; 
Even  co-ñ:ards  feit  their  fear  to  frenzy  ch:mg'd. 
And  only  wislî'd  to  die,  but  die  reveng'd. 

But  fierce  desire  of  blood,  and  scorn  of  pain, 
With  tenfold  rage  cnfiam'd  the  .sons  of  Spain  ; 


17 


Onward  they  rush'd,  impetuous  in  their  course, 
And  scarce  created  might  could  stand  their  force. 
Slowly  the  Araucanians  first  retreat, 
But  soon  in  squadrons  turn,  and  trust  their  feet. 
"  Triumph  to  Spain  !"  the  conquering  legions  cry  ; 
"  Triumph  to  Spain  !"  the  neighb'ring  vales  reply  ; 
But  dire  mischance,  or  Fate's  resistless  sway, 
Gave  a  dread  sequel  to  this  signal  day. 

An  Indian  Chieftain's  son,  in  arms  renown'd, 
To  great  Valdivia  by  allegiance  bound, 
For  many  an  instance  of  paternal  care, 
Follow'd  his  patron  to  the  field  of  war  ; 
But  when  he  saw  his  friends  resign  the  field. 
Commotion  strange  his  looks  and  words  reveal'd  ; 
And  as  they  fled,  pursued  by  wild  alarms, 
He  thus  recali'd  their  broken  bands  to  arms: 

"  O  blind  to  glory,  wliither  would  ye  run, 
Where  do  you  think  impending  fate  to  shun  ? 
And  is  it  thus  your  ancient  fame  expires, 
The  Sage's  honour,  and  the  Patriot's  fires? 
Are  all  your  laws  and  rights  for  ever  lost. 
Your  fathers'  freedom,  and  your  country's  boast  ? 
Once  ye  were  independent,  feai-'d,  and  bold, 
Kow,  for  degrading  bonds  your  claims  are  sold. 
The  vigour  of  your  ancient  stem  decays. 
Each  drooping  bough  a  latent  plague  betrays  ; 
That,  deep  within,  its  vernal  sap  consumes, 
And  withering  blights  invade  its  tarnish'd  blooms, 
Behold  the  wasted  vigour  of  your  foe  ! 
See,  bath'd  in  sweat  and  blood,  their  coursers  blow  ! 
Lose  not  your  mental  force,  your  martial  fires, 
Our  best  inheritance  from  generous  sires  ; 
Sink  not  the  noble  Araucanian  name 
From  glory's  summit  to  the  depths  of  sliame  ; 
Fly,  fly  the  servitude  your  souls  detest  ! 
To  the  keen  sword  «ppose  the  dauntless  breast. 
Why  show  ye  frames  endued  with  manly  powci-. 
Yet  shrink  from  danger  in  the  trying  liour  ? 
Fix  in  your  minds  the  friendly  truth  I  speak  ;  ' 
Vain  are  your  fears,  your  terror  blind  and  weak  : 
Now  make  your  names  immortal  ;  now  restore 
Freedom's  lost  blessings  to  your  native  shure  : 

Vol.  II.  c 


18 

Now  turji,  whiJe  Fame  and  Victory  inTite, 
While  prüsp'i'ous  Fortune  calls  you  to  the  fight  ; 
Or  yet  a  moment  cease,  O  cease  to  fiy, 
And  for  our  country  learn  of  me  to  die  I" 

Exclaiming  thus,  among  the  crowd  he  prest, 
And  aim'd  hisjavelin  at  Valdivia's  breast  ; 
Profuse  of  life,  to  fire  his  kindred  band 
By  the  atchievemcnts  of  a  single  hand, 
Bounding  among  the  levell'd  spears  he  flew, 
VVliile  death  around  his  steely  circle  drew  ; 
As  when,  in  summer's  glow,  a  panting  deer, 
Seeks  the  cool  solace  of  the  waters  clear, 
And  sports  anud  the  waves  in  wanton  play, 
So  sped  the  warrior  thro'  the  thick  array. 
One  he  o'erturns  ;  another  warrior's  side 
Feels  through  his  ribs  the  deadly  weapon  glide, 
Though  long  and  large  ;  then  lancing  through  the  throug. 
He  turns  and  winds  at  will,  or  darts  along; 
Now  springing  to  the  blow,  a  soldier's  thigh 
He  pierc'd,  as  on  his  steed  he  past  him  by  ; 
The  shock,  as  o'er  the  field  his  courser  flew, 
With  headlong  fury  snaptthe  beam  in  two; 
In  his  strong  hand  remain'd  the  shatter'd  wood, 
Fixt  in  the  lawn  the  pointed  truncheon  stood. 
Flinging  the  fragments  of  his  spear  away. 
An  huge  two-handed  mace,  with  furious  sway, 
Caught  from  the  field,  around  the  warrior  swung, 
And  fell'd  the  bravest  of  the  fighting  throng. 
Before  the  tempest  of  his  arm  afar 
At  distance  due  retir'd  the  baffled  war  ; 
But  rallying  soon  the  martial  tide  returns, 
And  round  his  dauntless  head  the  battle  burns. 
No  more  they  pour  upon  the  flying  crew, 
But  'gainst  a  single  youth  the  fight  renew. 
With  active  bound  he  shuns  the  levell'd  lance, 
Keen  falchions  round  his  helm  innocuous  glance, 
Through  tilting  spears,  and  many  a  random  blow, 
He  vaults,  or  springs  aloof,  or  lurks  below  ; 
And  like  a  Demon,  in  the  shades  of  night. 
Eludes  the  touch,  though  visible  to  sight. 
What  far-fam'd  ages  ever  yetsupply'd 
A  name  like  his,  who  left  the  victor's  side, 


I 


19 


And  with  the  vanquish 'd  host,  at  Honoui-'s  call, 
Resolv'd  to  wake  their  hopes,  or  share  their  fall  ? 
What  eye  had  ever  seen  beneath  the  sun, 
Since  he  began  his  daily  race  to  run, 
A  young  bai'barian's  solitary  hand, 
Extort  a  trophy  from  the  victor  band  ? 
Though  Rome,  exulting,  give  the  Decian  name 
With  their  sad  offering  to  eternal  fame  ; 
Though  Curtius  past  the  gloomy  gulf  below, 
And  Mutius'  burning  hand  amaz'd  the  foe  ; 
Though  Codes  longmaintain'd  the  ijloody  post, 
And  with  his  single  arm  repell'd  an  ho'^t  ; 
Though  in  the  ])ass  Leónidas  was  seen, 
Tinging  with  Median  gore  the  fatal  green  ; 
Since  first  the  world  was  shook  by  war's  alarms, 
His  equal  ne'er  v/as  known  in  deeds  of  arms. 
Let  Furius,  with  Marcelhis,  join  his  claim, 
Fulvius  and  Quintus  with  the  Sergian  name  ; 
Say,  of  these  famous  Chiefs  can  one  exceed 
Or  match  this  young  Barbarian's  noble  deed? 
Vict'ry  for  them,  her  purpose  unexplor'd. 
Tempted  by  equal  chance  their  happy  sword  : 
W^hat  risk,  what  peril,  did  they  boldly  meet, 
Save  where  Ambition  urg'd  the  splendid  feat  ; 
Or  mightier  Interest  fir'd  the  daring  mind, 
Which  makes  a  Hero  of  the  fearfvd  Hind  ? 
Many  there  are  who  with  a  brave  disdain 
Face  all  the  perils  of  the  deathful  plain, 
Who,  fir'd  by  hopes  of  glory,  nobly  dare. 
Yet  fail  the  stroke  of  adverse  chance  to  bear  ; 
With  animated  fire  their  spirit  shines. 
Till  the  short  splendour  of  their  day  declines  ; 
But  all  their  valour,  all  their  strength  expires, 
When  fickle  Fortune  from  their  side  retires. 
This  youthful  Hero,  when  the  die  was  cast, 
War's  dire  decree  against  his  country  past, 
Made  the  stern  Power  the  finish'd  cause  resume, 
And  finally  reverse  the  cruel  doom  : 
And,  by  his  efforts  in  the  dread  debate, 
Foi'c'd  the  determin'd  will  of  adverse  Fate. 
Still  I'ound  his  dauntless  form  the  battle  wheel'd, 
And  arms  and  corses  strew'd  the  sanguine  field  ; 


20 

When  India's  leader  o'er  the  flying  crew 
A  glance  of  grief  and  rage  indignant  threw. 
.,\t  his  stern  look  and  animating  cry, 
The  startled  soldiers  turn  around,  and  spy 
Where  to  a  single  combatant  oppos'd, 
Iberia's  files  the  matchless  foe  enclos'd; 
As  visionary  phantoms  take  their  ilight 
At  the  first  dawning  of  the  sacred  light  ; 
As  the  first  error  fills  with  wild  alarms 
The  man  whom  genuine  love  of  honour  warms  ; 
As  they  who  fly  "when  danger  threatens  near, 
While  night  redoubling  every  cause  of  fear 
Conceals  their  shame,  but  when  Aurora  springs, 
And  on  their  burning  brows  detection  flings, 
By  indignation  fir'd,  and  generous  shame. 
Undaunted  rally,  and  the  combat  claim. 
Thus  Araucar.ia  started  from  her  trance. 
Thus  the  keen  lightning  of  the  lifted  lance 
To  the  horizon  gleam'd  ;  while  all  around 
The  dusty  fields  their  thund'ring  march  resound  ; 
And,  pealing  to  the  skies,  from  wing  to  wing, 
Uimumber'd  choirs  the  hymn  of  battle  sing, 
While  echo  sends  around,  with  mimic  breath. 
The  solemn  vow  of  conquest,  or  of  death. 

As  with  tremendous  shock  the  battles  join'd, 
And  shouts  of  onset  fill'd  the  passing  wind, 
The  mighty  Oro's  lance  like  thunder  past 
Brave  Paynaguala's  breast,  who  breath 'd  his  last. 
Caupolican  observ'd  him  as  he  stood, 
Proudly  exulting  o'er  the  scene  of  blood, 
And  aim'd  a  downright  blow,  but  sidelong  swung 
His  pond'rous  mace,  which  laid  the  knight  along  ; 
His  batter'd  helm  return'd  a  sullen  sound, 
And  blood  and  brains  came  gushing  through  the  wound. 
A  second  foe  unknown  his  truncheon  sped, 
By  many  blows  subdn'd  among  the  dead, 
With  dinted  helm,  and  batter'd  sides  he  lay, 
Breathing  in  mortal  pangs  his  soul  away. 
Mighty  Ongolmo,  with  Ibei-ia's  lord. 
Met  in  the  mortal  conflict,  sword  to  sword  ; 
His  mutilated  hand  Ongolmo  mourns  : 
To  find  another  foe  Valdivia  turns, 


21 


And  saw  where  Leucoton  maintain'd  the  ilght 
Against  proud  Lamas  with  Reynnso's  knight. 
Nought  could  the  Spaniard's  double  force  prevail, 
And  still  the  battle  hung  in  even  scale  ; 
But  when  Valdivia  to  the  combat  drew 
Such  fearful  odds,  the  Araiicanians  flew 
Their  friend  to  aid  ;  again  the  battle  rag'd, 
And  Spanish  Knights  and  Indian  Chiefs  cngag'd 
With  equal  might,  vv'hile  to  the  vaulted  sky 
From  plate  and  mail  the  steely  sparkles  fly. 
Thus  veer'd  the  tide  of  fight,  by  fortune  drivrn, 
While  the  rude  sound  of  onset  rose  to  Heaven. 
Here  many  a  gasping  Chief  resign 'd  his  breath. 
Disdaining  flight,  and  proud  of  glorious  death  ; 
While  some  with  hostile  arms  embrace  the  foe, 
And  speed  with  daggers  keen,  the  mortal  blow. 

'Twas  not  enough  that  Gudiel  ne'er  had  seen 
An  equal  wrestler  on  the  sylvan  green  ; 
But  kindling  with  ill-omen'd  thirst  of  fame, 
He  now  resolv'd  to  try  the  dang'rous  game. 
Strong  Guaticol  he  challeng'd  to  the  field, 
A  youth,  yet  never  known  the  palm  toyield  ; 
They  meet  ;  they  grapple  long  with  fruitless  toil, 
While  drops  of  sweat  bedew  the  dusty  soil  ; 
But  to  his  brother's  aid  bold  Puron  flew, 
And  with  insidious  hand  a  dagger  drew  ; 
Then  ripp'd  with  cruel  stroke  the  Spaniard's  side 
And  life  came  floating  in  a  purple  tide. 
Faint  with  the  loss  of  blood,  and  deadly  wan 
With  staggering  step  brave  Villaroel  ran 
Among  his  foes  a  speedy  fate  to  find  ; 
With  him  the  noble  heir  of  Pennas  join'd 
Oozing  in  gory  drops  his  life  away. 
And  both  at  once  provoke  the  mortal  fray  ; 
And  not  in  vain  :  for  soon,  combin'd  in  death, 
They  sink  together,  and  resign  their  breath. 

Our  ranks  grew  thin,  and  still  the  bravest  fell, 
While  still  the  hostile  numbers  seem'd  to  swell. 
Scarce  sixty  gallant  combatants  remain'd, 
Who  with  undaunted  hearts  the  fight  maintain'd  : 
And  Fortune,  wav'ring  in  her  fickle  mood. 
The  part  she  favour'd  late,  with  rage  pursu'd  ; 


^2 


That  cause,  which  Heaven  appear'd  before  to  love, 

Seem'd  now  abhorr'd  by  every  power  above. 

Two  thousand  bowmen  bold,  ally'd  to  Spain, 

But  natives,  kept  at  bay  the  savage  train. 

With  many  a  fatal  shower  of  arrows  keen, 

And  strew'd,  with  copious  death,  the  bloody  green. 

But  now,  surrounded  in  the  fatal  field, 

These  archers  to  their  doom  were  forc'd  to  yield. 

But  still,  with  dauntless  hearts  the  Spaniards  stood, 

And  sold,  with  many  a  lii^,  their  streaming  blood. 

What  man  could  do,  their  gallant  Chief  essay'd, 

And  timely  succour  here  and  there  convey'd  ; 

While  his  strong  voice  their  fainting  sovils  could  raise 

With  sharp  rebuke,  or  well  deserved  praise. 

While  his  unwearied  arm  the  sv/ord  could  wield, 

Like  Mars  hemov'd  along  tl\e  bloody  field. 

Alas,  in  vain  !  his  friends  with  gradual  fall 

Sink  round,  and  on  his  name,  expiring,  call  ; 

Those  that  were  left,  resolve  in  ai^ms  to  die, 

Nor  means  of  reconcilement  know,  or  try. 

In  turn  by  twos,  and  threes,  they  press  the  plain, 

Twice  seven  alone  of  all  the  band  remain  ; 

Yet,  resolute  the  last  extreme  to  meet. 

Like  soldiers,  and  like  men,  who  scorn'd  retreat, 

Nought  but  the  force  of  steel  could  bend  them  down, 

Or  make  the  gallant  youths  a  victor  own. 

At  length  the  wretched  Chief  alone  was  left 

Of  all  his  followers  in  a  day  bereft, 

Except  his  chaplain  sage,  a  blameless  Priest, 

Whom  thus  with  hasty  v/ords  the  Chief  addrest  : 

"  Since  we  perceive  it  fruitless  to  contend. 

Another  course  we  now  must  learn  to  bend  ; 

If  Heaven  allows  escape,  our  lives  to  save. 

And  shun  the  horrors  of  tlie  yawning  grave." 

He  spoke,  they  spurr'd  their  steeds,  and  fled  amain, 

Pursu'd,  insulted  by  the  yelling  train  : 

Like  two  wild  chafing  boars,  by  hunters  chas'd 

Along  the  mazes  of  the  sylvan  waste. 

With  dogs  of  scent,  that  range  the  forest  o'er, 

Or  fleet  Hibernian  hounds,  athirst  for  gore  ; 

So  in  the  track  of  death,  with  savage  spite, 

The  cruel  Foe  pursu'd  the  Chieftain's  flight  ; 


23 


While  clouds  of  missile  death,  discharg'd  behind, 
Fell  on  the  ground,  or  sung  upon  the  wind, 
As  wintry  gusts  the  dai-kened  fields  assail, 
And  o'er  the  rallies  sweep  the  sounding  hail. 
A  deep  merass  at  length  their  flight  withstood. 
On  them  the  hunters  flew  athirst  for  blood  : 
While  those  that  lagg'd  the  hindmost  in  the  chace 
Their  shouting  fellows  mark'd  with  deep  disgrace. 
The  Chaplain  soon  was  slain,  the  savage  crew 
With  contumelious  blows  Valdivia  drew, 
Where  met  in  dire  divan  the  seniors  sate 
With  general  sentence  to  pronounce  his  fate. 

Caupolican,  who  wish'd  to  see  his  foe, 
A  living  trophy  of  his  overthrow, 
With  lordly  look  and  haughty  threat  beg^n 
To  question  and  insult  the  ruin'd  man. 
With  abject  mien,  and  supplication  low, 
The  captive  try'd  to  melt  the  cruel  foe  ; 
Imploring  life,  and  oft  devoutly  swore 
To  Chili's  tribes  their  freedom  to  restore  ; 
Nor  e'er,  if  mercy  met  his  prayers  again, 
With  slavish  bonds  to  gall  the  hardy  train. 
*Tis  said  the  General's  heart  began  to  melt, 
And  all  a  transient  glow  of  pity  felt  ; 
But  one,  to  whom  the  doubtful  Chief  apply'd 
For  prompt  advice,  with  soul  relentless  cry'd: 
"  Say,  will  you  to  a  captive's  prayer  resign 
The  noble  fruits  of  many  a  bold  design  ? 
This  arm  will  soon  annul  the  deep  disgrace  :* 
Then  lifting  in  both  hands  a  ponderous  mace, 
With  sudden  fury  struck  his  kneeling  foe, 
And  sent  his  spirit  to  the  shades  below. 
As  when  a  bull  is  seen  for  slaughter  bound. 
Whose  mournful  lowings  fill  the  region  round, 
While  crowding  near,  with  unrelenting  eyes, 
The  cruel  train  admire  his  mighty  size. 
The  stern  assassin  lifts  his  murd'rous  mace, 
And,  marking  with  his  eye  the  mortal  place, 
His  brain-pan  smites,  and  lays  him  on  the  soil. 
Then  from  his  members  tears  the  recking  spoil. 
The  cruel  Indian  thus,  tho'  chill'd  with  age, 
Ou  the  defenceless  victim  spent  his  rage. 


24 

The  Chief,  with  generous  indignation  warm. 
Against  the  ruthless  deed  began  to  storm  ; 
And  vow'd  I'evenge;  and  to  the  host  appeal'd  ; 
The  general  vote  his  rising  rage  withheld: 
And  all  agree,  that  none  of  hostile  name 
Sliould  'scape,  the  general  danger  to  proclaim  : 
The  cruel  senior  thus  from  peril  freed, 
Exulted  in  his  unrelenting  deed. 

Two  friendly  Indians,  when  their  comrades  fell, 
B}-  fate  were  spar'd  the  deadly  news  to  tell. 
Those  lied  the  field  of  death,  and  gain'd  a  wood 
From  which  the  direful  scene  of  strife  they  view'd. 
TillPhœbus  in  the  west,  with  setting  ray, 
Clos'd  the  dire  triumphs  of  that  dreadful  day  ; 
And  when  clear  Hesper  led  the  train  of  night, 
The  friendly  hour  conceal'd  their  homeward  flight.* 
Now  climbing  up  the  vast  Olympian  steep. 
The  car  of  night,  involv'd  in  darkness  deep, 
Pieach'd  to  the  point  of  noon,  and  far  display'd 
Over  the  face  of  things  her  peaceful  shade. 
Not  peaceful  was  the  camp,  where  clamorous  joy 
Broke  thro'  the  gloom,  and  struck  the  vaulted  sky. 
Kow  fearless  of  alarm,  and  eas'd  from  toil, 
Their  blood-stain'd  arms  around  the  Warriors  pile  ; 
The  youths  pi-epare  to  dance,  the  timbrels  sound, 
And  jocund  measures  beat  the  groaning  ground  ; 
The  joyful  tidings,  ere  the  blush  of  morn. 
To  all  the  Araucauian  tribes  were  borne. 

In  an  assembly  of  the  Araucanians  a  general  confederacy  of  all 
the  southern  tribes  is  ¡proposed,  in  order  to  attack  the  Spaniards  in 
every  quarter  at  once,  and  extirpate  the  whole  race.  This  pro- 
posal is  overruled  by  Caupolican,  the  General,  who  recommends 
defensive  war  as  the  more  cfíectual  means  of  establishing  their  in- 
dependence. 
He  thus  ])roceeds  : — 

'•  Valdivia's  doom,  yon  mighty  castle's  fall, 
A  feebler  foe  than  Spain  would  much  appal  ; 


*  This  accounts  for  the  pai*ticulars  of  the  battle  being  so  distinctly 

known  to  the  Spaniards,  from  whom  Erc'iIIa  hud  probably  learned  them. 


25 


But,  when  our  bold  revolt  is  fully  known, 
Revenge  to  deetls  of  blood  will  urge  them  on. 
Who  then  shall  meet  their  desolating  rage, 
Or  in  an  equal  field  their  powers  engage  ? 
No  !  be  it  ours  to  leave  a  passage  free, 
While  they,  secure  of  fancy'd  victory, 
By  woody  wilds,  and  swamps  encircled  round. 
And  cliffi  embattled  high,  and  lakes  profound  ; 
Incautious  in  the  deadly  snare  shall  fall, 
And  one  wide  ruin  overwhelm  them  all. 
Nor  can  their  valour  then  their  lives  defend, 
If  fortune  still  thejuster  cause  befriend  ; 
In  search  of  us  in  vain  they  long  may  roam, 
And  find  us,  unexpected  guests,  at  home," 

The  General  spoke,  the  crowd  with  joint  acclaim 
Approve  his  counsel,  and  applaud  his  name. 
Those  means,  which  wayward  fancy  spurn'd  before, 
Seem'd  now  the  best  their  safety  to  restore. 

Then  to  the  youth  he  turn'd,  whose  daring  hand 
Relum'd  the  courage  of  the  flying  band, 
From  the  proud  Victor  snatch'd  his  wreath  away, 
And  with  unequall'd  prowess  turn'd  the  day  ; 
And  on  his  right  the  high-distinguish'd  man, 
Placing  with  due  respect,  he  thus  began  : 
"All  hail,  unequall'd  youth,  whose  warlike  name 
Exalts  to  Heaven  the  Araucanian  fame  ! 
To  thee  she  owes  that  her  capacious  bound 
Takes  in  a  large  extent  of  hostile  ground. 
To  thee  the  safety  of  the  State  we  owe  ; 
To  thee  our  cruel  Tyrant's  overthrow. 
Thine  is  th'  atchievement  sole,  and  thine  the  praise, 
To  last,  while  yonder  sun  our  world  surveys." 
Then,  turning  to  the  Senate,  thus  he  said, 
»'  For  such  high  merit  in  the  field  display'd. 
By  great  Lautaro  (so  the  Chief  was  nam'd) 
Say,  what  reward,  what  honours  can  be  claim'd  ^ 
If  your  consent,  with  my  design  accord. 
His  hand  shall  wield  a  delegated  sword. 
And  guide  to  fame,  the  second  in  command, 
The  bold  defenders  of  our  native  land. 
I  send  him  r/ith  a  brave  selected  train, 
Where  best  his  active  valour  may  sustain 
Vol.  II.  o 


26 


T'lie  hot  incursion  of  our  deadly  foes, 
While  I,  at  Elicura's  pass  dispose 
My  powers,  the  hostile  squadrons  to  engage, 
If  haply  there  they  mean  to  point  their  rage." 

All  prais'd  the  generous  boon,  so  well  bestow 'd, 
The  new  made  Chief  with  grateful  ardour  glow'd  : 
Envy,  the  darkest  demon  of  the  mind, 
Was  mute,  if  envy  there  a  place  could  find. 
The  Chief,  as  laws  ordain'd  in  days  of  yore, 
Fi-om  his  redundant  locks  a  ringlet  shore  ; 
This  simple  mark  of  delegated  sway 
'i'he  tribes  were  long  accustom'd  to  obey. 

This  meed  the  youth  obtain'd,  his  country's  shield,, 
In  counsel  wise,  and  fearless  in  the  field  : 
Yet  mild,  and  gentle  in  the  peaceful  shade, 
He  only  seem'd  for  social  pleasure  made  ; 
But  when  his  country's  callinspir'd  his  soul. 
His  fiery  spirit  flam'd  above  controul. 
Not  large  of  limb,  but  with  collected  might. 
And  lion  nerve,  he  turn'd  the  tide  of  fight  ; 
His  swelling  muscles,  his  capacious  chest. 
And  shoulders  bx'oad,  transcendent  force  confcst. 
The  choice,  and  presence  of  this  guest  renown'd, 
Prolong'd  the  feast,  while  oft  the  sun  went  round. 
The  rivals  in  the  course,  the  wrestlers  riag. 
The  sinewy  champion,  who  with  active  spring 
Out-leap'd  his  peers,  employ'd  the  jocund  day. 
But,  when  pale  Cynthia  shed  her  silver  ray 
Along  the  solemn  wood,  the  dance  and  song 
Varied  the  pleasures  of  the  qiartial  throng  : 
Not  equal  feasts  adorn'd,  in  days  of  yore, 
'J'lic  plains  of  Argos  or  Scamander's  shore: 
When  long-protracted  joys,  with  honours  due, 
Paid  the  long  labours  of  tlie  gallant  crew. 

But  o'er  th'  assembly  soon  a  cloud  was  cast, 
When  thro'  the  forest,  breathless,  pale,  aghast, 
OV-rtoil'd,  and  smcar'd  with  dust,  a  Courier  came, 
And  thus  was  heard  his  tidings  to  proclaim  : 
"  To  arms,  great  Chief!  to  arms,  ye  tribes  renown'd, 
The  deadly  Foe  hasforc'd  the  guarded  bound. 
Your  ambuscade  is  bi'oke,  your  chamj)ions  slain, 
Xono  but  the  troops  that  fled  the  field  remain, 


27 


The  relicks  of  the  war.    A  scanty  foe, 

Twice  seven  in  number,  caus'd  our  overthrow. 

All  cas'd  in  mail,  on  fleetest  coursers  borne. 

Our  shafts  and  pointed  spears  they  held  in  scorn, 

As  like  autumnal  storms  they  swept  along 

Our  scatter'd  files,  and  thinn'd  the  feeble  throng  ; 

The  boldest  of  our  train  in  battle  fell, 

The  rest  surviv'd  the  deadly  news  to  tell." 

The  Chief,  who  knew  his  anguish  well  to  hide, 

Thus,  with  a  well-dissembled  scorn  reply'd  : 

"  And  is  it  thus  our  foes  maintain  the  war  ? 

This  sudden  onset  only  marks  despair. 

A  band  so  small  can  never  hope  retreat, 

Compell'd  at  every  pass  their  doom  to  meet." 

Then  to  his  delegate  he  gave  command 

To  take  the  vaward  with  a  chosen  band. 

To  watch  the  foe,  and  recognize  their  force, 

While  with  his  legions  he  pursued  their  course. 

Proud  of  his  charge,  the  dauntless  Indian  drew 

A  band  of  heroes  from  the  martial  crew  ; 

And  led  them  on  with  speed  in  quest  of  fame, 

With  new  atchievements  to  adorn  his  name. 

But  the  sonorous  trump  of  Mars  afar 

Recalls  the  Muse  to  other  scenes  of  war  ; 

To  sing  what  these  advent'rous  Knights  perform 'd. 

With  what  impetuous  rage  the  camp  they  storm'd. 


CANTO  IV. 
OF  what  high  import  is  the  love  of  right  ! 
By  her,  what  numerous  ills  are  put  to  flight  ! 
Thro'  all  the  Araucanian  vales  afar 
Rebellion  had  not  wav'd  the  flag  of  War, 
Nor  Ruin  roll'd  her  sweeping  tide  along 
Had  castigation  check'd  the  infant  wrong. 
Thus  wounds,  when  left  to  fester,  in  the  close 
Bring  on  a  sable  train  of  cureless  woes. 
Mercy  is  cruelty  when  ills  invade. 
And  timely  cure  is  by  neglect  delay'd. 
If  the  deep  gangrene  calls  the  searching  steel, 
The  stroke  is  needful,  th.o'  the  man  may  fee\  -, 


28 


E>  en  soft  Compassion  holds  the  saving  knife 
That  lops  the  member,  to  preserve  the  life. 

Forbid  it,  Heaven  !  that  every  crime  should  draw 
The  trenchant  sword  of  unrelenting  law, 
Except  v/hen  deadly  guilt  the  wound  requires, 
Pregnant  with  plagues,  and  lit  witli  Stygian  fires  ; 
The  guilt  was  nmtual  here  ;  the  lust  of  gold 
Foster'd  the  fiend  to  license  uncontroU'd  : 
No  strong  corrective  hand  his  rage  represt, 
Till  his  dark  venom  boil'd  in  every  breast. 

The  strictest  laws  of  Nemesis  abjure 
That  wanton  cruelty  that  kills  to  cure, 
And  wades  thro'  deluges  of  blood,  to  claim 
For  deeds  of  ruthless  stamp,  a  lasting  name  ; 
Or  with  a  causeless  and  unbounded  rage 
Which  Mercy  tries  in  vain  to  melt  orsuage  ; 
For  solitary  crimes  with  deadly  wrath 
Consigns  a  guiltless  hecatomb  to  death. 
The  Muse  might  here  indulge  an  amj)le  view, 
And  this  important  theme  at  large  pursue  ; 
But  Modesty  forbids  the  depths  toscan, 
That  sliew  the  duties,  and  the  claims  of  man. 
Censure  and  Envy,  with  malignant  eyes. 
In  me  a  partial  bias  might  surmise  ; 
But  this,  at  least,  is  clear,  that  careless  swaj'^, 
And  absence  of  a  King,  to  num'rous  ills  betray. 

To  trace  the  course  of  wrong  no  more  the  Muse 
Attempts,  but  now  her  former  theme  pursues, 
Nor  longer  now  forsakes  the  path  assign'd 
To  sow  the  seeds  of  wisdom  in  the  wind  ; 
Gladly  she  turns  to  that  advent'rous  band, 
Whose  gallant  deeds  a  nobler  flight  demand  ; 
Ambitious  to  consign  to  endless  fame 
The  glory  of  each  far  distinguish'd  name  ; 
But  ah  !  a  nobler  palm  than  she  can  give 
These  youths  demand  to  bid  their  memory  live. 
Yet  even  this  monument  of  rustic  praise, 
That  such  an  humble  bard  as  I  can  raise. 
To  times  remote  may  send  their  glories  down, 
And  other  ages  hear  their  long  renown  ; 
Till  unborn  heroes,  kindling  at  the  view, 
Shall  bid  the  fair  example  live  anew. 


29 


Their  names,  before  their  deeds,  O  Muse  !  record  ; 
Cortez,  Almagro's  far-destroying  sword, 
Cordova,  with  Nereda's  heir  combin'd, 
Moran,  Gonzalo,  v/ith  Hernandez  join'd  ; 
With  Maldonado,  Penalosa  came, 
Their  place  Vergara  next,  and  Garcia  claim, 
Herrera  nigh  with  Castañeda  rode. 
Like  tlic  twin  offspring  of  th'  Olympian  God  ; 
And  noble  Manrique,  not  the  lowest  name, 
Brought  up  the  rear,  and  clos'd  the  lists  of  fame  ; 
Those,  when  the  fallen  Valdivia  sent  for  aid. 
With  eager  haste  the  martial  call  obey'd,  ^ 

Andspurr'd  along,  unconscious  of  the  doom 
That  sent  their  General  to  th'  untimely  tomb. 
By  Puren's  shadowy  cliffs  the  heroes  past. 
And  reach'd  a  sylvan  theatre  at  last. 
Where  marks  of  mighty  rendezvous  were  seen. 
For  countless  feet  had  mark'd  the  trodden  green  ; 
By  num'rous  signs  they  soon  discover'd  clear, 
That  wild  Revolt  had  rais'dher  standard  here  ; 
Vet  neither  stopp'd  their  course,  nor  turn'd  aside, 
Till  mild  Aurora's  crimson  vest  they  spy'd, 
Above  the  dawning  hills  display'd  afar. 
And  gladly  hail'd  the  morn's  ascending  car. 
FairElicura's  opening  vale  they  spy. 
When  Sol  o'erlooked  the  w^oods  with  lordly  eye. 
Here  in  dread  ambuscade  the  Indians  lay. 
Hoping  that,  when  their  Foes  pursu'd  their  way 
In  careless  march,  a  loose,  disorder'd  host, 
Thdr  bands,  conceal'd  around  the  fatal  post, 
Might  hem  them  in  amid  the  woodland  gloom 
All  unawares,  and  mark  them  for  the  tomb. 

Three  steep  descending  glades  the  Warriors  past, 
And  to  the  central  shades  arriv'd  at  last  ; 
Where  stood  their  foes,  deep  rang'd  in  alleys  green, 
Hidhig  in  sylvan  mask  their  hideous  mien  ; 
Sudden,  the  Araucanian  trump  afar 
Was  heard,  and  tambourines  provoke  the  war  ; 
Barbarian  cymbals  join  their  deadly  sound, 
And  doubling  echoes  from  the  vales  rebound. 
While  from  their  green  retreats  in  dread  array 
The  Indians  pour,  and  mtercept  the  way. 


30 


Not  hunters,  when  the  starting  hare  they  sec 

Stretching,  with  tim'rüus  speed,  along  the  lea, 

More  transport  feel,  than  each  Iberian  breast, 

At  the  first  prospect  of  the  foe  confcst. 

Instant,  their  thund'ring  steeds  they  spurr'd  along, 

Eager  toplunge  amid  the  hostile  throng. 

Of  flinty-headed  pikes  the  Indians  drew 

A  line  before  to  foil  the  Christian  crew  ; 

Yet,  at  their  force,  the  Christians  nought  dismay'd, 

Dismist  the  boldest  to  the  Stygian  shade  ; 

And  spears  and  spearmen,  helms  andbatter'd  shields, 

In  various havock  spread  the  fatal  fields. 

With  active  hands,  but  hopeless  hearts,  they  fought, 

For  still  fresh  numbers  hemm'd  the  fatal  spot. 

Two  squadrons,  in  a  circle  wide,  surround 

The  fatal  wood  ;  the  third  maintains  its  ground 

Against  their  foes  :  their  foes  in  close  array 

Come  on  with  levell'd  spears,  or  break  away. 

And  now  in  deadly  tournament  they  join. 

And  with  fierce  inroad  part  the  lengthen'd  line. 

Again  their  rallying  foes  and  legions  meet, 

And  force  them  back  to  find  a  safe  retreat. 

Now  back  to  back  they  fight  :  now  side  by  side, 

And  chace  their  wounded  foes  along  the  forest  wide. 

Soon  other  foes,  assembling  in  the  rear, 

Laugh  at  the  light'ning  of  the  lifted  spear. 

Thus  twice  with  desperate  rage  to  force  their  way, 

They  strove,  as  oft  the  Indians  firm  array 

At  every  pass  their  furious  course  withstood 

Among  the  mazes  of  the  faithless  wood. 

Then  facing  to  the  long  defile  that  led 

Where  Casafucrte  rais'd  its  awful  head 

Of  old,  to  right,  to  left  the  warriors  Avheel'd, 

But  still  the  thronging  Indians  fiU'd  the  field, 

And  mingling  boldly  with  the  gallant  band 

Provok'd  th'  unequal  conflict  hand  to  hand. 

At  length  from  that  sad  vale  a  pass  they  found, 

By  mining  waters  thro'  the  lofty  mound 

Open'd  of  old,  where  now  the  sinking  soil 

Proniis'd  a  seeming  respite  to  their  toil  ; 

So  narrow  was  the  way,  that  as  they  past 

Along  the  path  by  shelving  hills  embrac'd, 


31 


As  slowly  on  they  fil'd  a  Knight  behind, 
With  single  valour  check'd  their  foes  combin'd  ; 
The  ridge  was  skirted  by  a  gloomy  wood, 
Thro'  this  the  Avarriors  past  by  fate  pursued, 
Full  in  the  track  behind.  A  friendly  slave 
They  met  at  last,  who  to  Almagro  gave 
A  billet,  which  with  better  hopes  before 
This  trusty  servant  from  Valdivia  bore. 
To  fix  their  rendezvous,  but  bore  in  vain  ; 
And  now,  the  triumphs  of  the  barb'rous  train 
Return'd,  with  all  the  marks  of  fear  to  tell. 
And  how  the  great  Valdivia  fought  and  fell  ; 
His  people's  fall,  the  castle's  overthrow, 
He  told,  a  sad  variety  of  woe. 

The  champions  heard  the  news  with  thrilling  pain, 
And,  marching  onward,  found  a  narrow  plain  ; 
By  east  and  west,  and  on  the  northern  side 
High  fenc'd,  the  south  alone  a  pass  supply'd. 
Hither  they  bent  their  course,  retiring  slow, 
Still  on  their  rearward  hang  th'  insulting  foe. 
In  lengthen'd  files  they  haste,  behind,  before, 
And  thro'  the  tangled  wood  their  prey  explore  : 
And  now  they  reach  the  plain,  and  full  in  sight 
Their  destin'd  victims  view  with  stern  delight  ; 
While  all  the  vailles  ring  with  loud  alarms, 
Calling  afar  the  scatter'd  bands  to  arms. 
Now  in  two  squadrons  form'd,  the  savage  crew 
Come  onward,  and  the  deadly  fight  renew. 
Vain  was  the  hope  the  champions  saw  to  fly, 
To  force  the  passage  they  resolv'd,  or  die. 
The  bold  Lincoya  led  the  hostile  band  ; 
Whose  formidable  wings  on  either  hand 
\'\'ere  spread,  while  mixt  with  fifes,  the  savage  yell 
Of  thousands  seem 'd  the  harmony  of  hell. 

Onward  the  Spaniards  came,  sedate  and  slow, 
Nor  yet  their  buoyant  hearts  the  hope  forego 
To  turn  those  notes  of  joy  to  wailing  strains, 
And  with  barbarian  slaughter  heap  the  plains. 
Undaunted  at  the  formidable  view. 
Alike  they  reck'd  the  many,  or  the  few  ; 
As  men  long  us'd  to  foil  superior  force 
With  skill  combin'd,  on  fam'd  Europa's  shoves. 


32 

Yet  one  degenerate  son  of  Spain  was  found, 

(The  muse  disdains  the  recreant's  name  to  sound) 

Who  turning  round  to  view  the  slender  train, 

Thus  feebly  spoke  his  soul's  degenerate  strain  ; 

"  Would  Heaven  recruit  our  yet — unconquer'd  band 

With  eighty  Knights,  we  then  might  hope  to  stand." 

The  bold  Gonsalo  with  disdain  replied  : 

"  Rather  let  two  be  sever'd  from  our  side, 

Kind  Heaven  !  that  Memoi'y  may  our  feats  proclaim, 

And  call  our  little  troop,  The  Twelve  of  Fame  !'' 

Then  each  with  cautious  heed  his  courser  try'd, 
Nor  found  their  wonted  mettle  yet  subside  ; 
And  in  their  saddles  firm,  with  loosen'drein, 
They  sally  forth  to  meet  the  hostile  train  ; 

Spurring  with  speed  their  coursers  all  abreast, 
With  vizors  clos'd,  and  each  his  lance  in  rest. 

While  to  the  God  of  îlosts  their  ])rayers  ascend 

His  servants  from  perdition  to  defend. 

As  on  the  barb'rous  hordes  the  Knights  advance, 

The  savage  tribes,  with  many  a  ported  lance 

Prepai-e  to  stem  their  course  :  their  thronging  spears 

Seem'd,  as,  v/hen  Boreas  bends  the  loaded  ears 

By  Ceres  fiU'd,  o'er  all  the  spacious  plain 

Floats  a  redundant  crop  of  bearded  grain. 

But  nought  their  numbers,  nought  their  rage  avail'd, 

By  such  impetuous  tournament  assail'd  : 

O'er  falling  files  the  steeds  resistless  rode, 

And  open'd  thro'  the  line  an  ample  road. 

After  feats  of  almost  incredible  prowess,  seven  of  the  Spaniards 
are  killed,  being  overpowered  by  the  arrival  of  Lautaro  with  a  re- 
inforcement ;  the  rest  are  saved  by  a  sudden  storm,  which  the 
Poet  thus  describes  : 

As  Maldonadobreath'd  his  soul  away, 
Unusual  darkness  hid  the  face  of  day, 
O'er  the  sun's  blotted  orb  it  sail'd  along, 
And  o'er  the  bloody  scene  portentous  hung  ; 
And  now  the  tempest  lifts  its  angry  voice 
With  long  collected  rage,  and  sweeps  the  skies  ; 
Strain'd  by  the  powerful  gust  the  forests  groan. 
And  distant  vales  return  the  sullen  moan. 


33 

As  every  wind  its  liquid  treasure  brings, 

Large  drops  at  first  are  shaken  from  its  wings  : 

Singly  they  fall,  till  roll'd  upon  the  wind 

The  clouds  at  once  their  wat'ry  stores  unbind, 

Ari^  pour  them  downward,  in  continuous  flow, 

On  the  wide  desolated  plain  below  : 

Thus,  when  the  beaten  tambourines  begin 

Before  the  onset  their  sonorous  din. 

With  the  deliberate  march,  their  solemn  sound 

In  unison  its  ardour  seems  to  bound  ; 

Till,  as  they  close,  discordant,  long  and  loud. 

The  martial  music  fires  the  fighting  crowd. 

From  the  swoln  clouds  with  like  tempestuous  wrath, 

The  driving  deluge  swept  the  field  of  death  ; 

While  the  deep  thunder,  from  the  Stygian  womb 

Of  darkness,  roar'd,  and  thro'  the  parting  gloom 

Fierce  lightnings  quick  dispell'd  the  cloudy  veil. 

By  sweeping  rain  pursued,  and  sounding  hail. 

With  teri'or  seiz'd  the  Araucanian  crew 

Disperse,  and  all  a  different  course  pursue  ; 

For  still  the  loud  aerial  war  increast, 

And  struck  cold  terror  in  the  boldest  breast. 

The  few  Spaniards  that  escape  take  refuge  in  a  neighbouring 
fort  ;  which  they  abandon  the  following  day  on  liearing  the  fate  of 
Valdivia.  Lautaro  returns,  and  receives  new  honours  and  new 
forces  from  his  General,  to  march  against  a  Spanish  army,  which 
departs  from  the  city  of  Penco  under  the  command  of  Villagran, 
an  experienced  officer,  to  revenge  the  death  of  Valdivia.  The  de- 
parture of  the  troops  from  Penco  is  described,  and  the  distress  of 
the  women.  Villagran  mai'chcs  with  expedition  towards  the  fron- 
tiers of  Arauco.  He  arrives  at  a  dangerous  pass,  and  finds  Lautaro, 
with  his  army  of  10,100  Indians,  advantageously  posted  on  the 
heights,  and  waiting  with  great  steadiness  and  discipline  to  give  hini 
battle. 


CANTO  V. 

LAUTARO  with  great  difficulty  restrains  the  eager  Indians  i« 
their  post  on  the  rock.  He  suffers  a  few  to<iescend  and  skirmish  on  the 
lower  ground,  where  sevcx-al  distinguish  themselves  i  ;  single  com- 

VoL.  IL  j: 


34 

bat.  The  Spaniards  attempt  in  vain  to  dislodge  the  army  of  Lautaro 
by  an  attack  of  their  cavalry  :— they  afterwards  fire  on  them  from 
six  pieces  of  cannon. 

Thevext  air  feels  the  thunder  of  the  fight, 
And  smoke  and  flame  involve  the  mountain's  height  ; 
Earth  seems  to  open  as  the  flames  aspire, 
And  new  volcanoes  spout  destructive  fire. 

Lautaro  saw  no  hopes  of  life  allow'd, 
Save  by  dispersing  this  terrifick  cloud, 
That  pours  its  lightning  Avith  so  dire  a  shock, 
Smiting  his  lessen'd  host  who  strew  the  rock  ; 
Then  to  the  troop  of  Leucoton  the  brave 
His  quick  command  the  skilful  Leader  gave  ; 
He  bids  them  fiercely  to  the  charge  descend, 
And  thus  exhorts  aloud  each  ardent  friend  : 

"  My  faithful  partners  in  bright  victory's  meed, 
Whom  fortune  summons  to  this  noble  deed, 
Behold  tlie  hour  when  your  prevailing  might 
Shall  prove  that  Justice  guards  us  in  the  fight  I 
Now  firmly  fix  your  lances  in  the  rest. 
And  rush  to  honour  o'er  each  hostile  breast  ; 
Through  every  bar  your  bloody  passage  force, 
Nor  let  a  brother's  fall  impede  your  course  ; 
Be  yon  dread  instruments  of  death  your  aim  : 
Possest  of  these  you  gain  eternal  fame  : 
The  camp  shall  follow  your  triumphant  trace, 
And  own  you  leaders  in  the  glorious  chace.'* 
While  these  bold  words  their  ardent  zeal  exalt, 
They  rush  impetuous  to  the  rash  assault. 

The  Indians,  undismayed  by  a  dreadful  slaughter,  gai»  possession 
of  the  cannon.  Villagran  makes  a  short  but  spirited  harangue  to 
his  flying  soldiers.  He  is  unable  to  rally  them  :  and,  chusing  rather 
to  die  than  to  survive  so  ignominious  a  defeat,  rushes  into  the 
thickest  of  the  enemy. 


CANTO  VL 

THE  valiant  mind  is  privileg'd  to  feel 
Superior  to  each  turn  of  Fortune's  wheel: 


55 

Chance  has  no  powev  its  value  to  debase, 

Or  brand  it  with  the  mark  of  deep  disgrace  : 

So  thought  the  noble  Villagran,  our  Chief, 

Who  chose  that  death  should  end  his  present  grief, 

And  smooth  the  horrid  path,  with  thorns  o'erspread. 

Which  Destiny  condemn'dhis  feet  to  tread. 

Thirteen  of  the  most  faithful  soldiers  of  Villagran,  perceiving 
their  Leader  fallen  motionless  under  the  fury  of  his  enemies,  make 
a  desperate  effort  to  preserve  him.  Being  placed  again  on  his  horse 
by  these  generous  deliverers,  he  recovers  from  the  blow  which  had 
stunned  him  ;  and  by  singular  exertion,  with  the  assistance  of  hi» 
spirited  little  troop,  effects  his  escape,  and  rejoins  his  main  army  ; 
whom  he  endeavours  in  vain  to  lead  back  against  the  triumphant 
Araucanians.  The  pursuit  becomes  general,  and  the  Poet  describes 
the  horrid  massacre  committed  by  the  Indians  on  all  the  unhappy 
fugitives  that  fell  into  their  hands.  The  Spaniards  in  their  flight  are 
stopt  by  a  narrow  pass  fortified  and  guarded  by  a  party  of  Indians. 
Villagran  forces  the  rude  entrenchment  in  person,  and  conduct» 
part  of  his  army  safe  through  the  pass  ;  but  many,  in  attempting 
other  roads  over  the  mountainous  country,  are  either  lost  among  the 
precipices  of  the  rocks,  or  pursued  and  killed  by  the  Indians. 


CANTO  VII. 

THE  remains  of  the  Spanish  army,  after  infinite  loss  and  fatigue, 
at  last  reach  the  city  of  Conception. 

Their  entrance  in  these  walls  let  fancy  paint, 
O'erwhelm'd  with  anguish,  and  with  labour  faint  : 
These  gash'd  with  ghastly  wounds,  those  writh'd  with  pain, 
While  some  their  human  semblance  scarce  retain  ; 
They  seem  unhappy  spirits  'scaped  from  hell. 
Yet  wanting  voice  their  misery  to  tell. 
Their  pangs  to  all  their  rolling  eyes  express, 
And  silence  most  declares  their  deep  distress. 

When  weariness  and  shame  at  length  allow'd 
Their  tongues  to  satisfy  th'  enquiring  crowd, 
From  the  pale  citizens,  amaz'd  to  hear 
A  tale  surpassing  e'en  their  wildest  fear. 
One  general  sound  of  lamentation  rose. 
That  deeply  solemniz'd  a  nation's  woes  ; 


The  neighbouring  mansions  to  their  grief  replj', 
And  every  wall  returns  tlie  mournful  cry. 

The  inhabitants  of  Conception,  expecting  every  instant  the 
triumphant  Lautaro  at  their  gates,  resolve  to  abandon  their  city. 
A  gallant  veteran  upbraids  their  cowardly  design.  They  disregard 
his  reproaches,  and  evacuate  the  place: — when  the  Poet  introduces 
the  following  instance  of  female  heroism: 

'Tis  just  that  Fame  a  noble  deed  display, 
Which  claims  remembrance,  even  to  the  day 
When  Memory's  hand  no  more  the  pen  shall  use, 
But  sink  in  darkness,  and  her  being  lose  : 
The  lovely  Mencia,  an  accomplish'd  Dame, 
A  valiant  spirit  in  a  tender  frame, 
Here  firmly  shew'd,  as  this  dread  scene  began, 
Courage  now  found  not  in  the  heart  of  man. 
The  bed  of  sickness 'twas  her  chance  to  press; 
But  when  she  heard  the  city's  loud  distress, 
Snatching  such  weapons  as  the  time  allow'd, 
She  rush 'd  indignant  midst  the  flying  crowd. 

Now  up  the  neighbouring  hill  they  slowly  wind, 
And,  bending  oft  their  mournful  eyes  behind, 
Cast  a  sad  look,  of  every  hope  bereft. 
On  those  rich  plains,  the  precious  home  they  left. 

More  poignant  grief  see  generous  Mencia  feel, 
More  noble  ])roof  she  gives  of  patriot  zeal  : 
Waving  a  sword  in  her  heroic  hand, 
In  their  tame  march  she  stopt  the  timid  band  : 
Cross'd  the  ascending  road  before  their  van, 
And  turning  to  the  eity,  thus  began  : 

"  Thou  valiant  nation,  whose  unequall'd  toils 
Have  dearly  purchas'd  fame  and  golden  sj)oils, 
Where  is  the  courage  ye  so  oft  display 'd 
Against  this  foe,  from  whom  ye  shrink  dismay'd  ? 
Where  those  high  hopes,  and  that  aspiring  flame, 
Which  made  immortal  praise  your  constant  aim  ? 
Where  your  firm  souls,  that  every  chance  defied, 
And  native  strength,  that  form'd  your  noble  pride  ? 
Ah  whither  would  you  fly,  in  selfish  fear, 
In  frantic  haste,  with  no  pursuer  near  ? 


37 

*'  How  oft  has  censure  to  your  hearts  assign'd 
Ardor  too  keenly  brave  and  rashly  blind  ; 
Eager  to  dart  amid  the  doubtful  fray, 
Scorning  tlie  useiul  aid  of  wise  delà)'  ? 
Have  we  not  seen  you  with  contempt  oppose, 
And  bend  beneath  your  yoke  unnumber'd  foes  ; 
Attempt  and  execute  designs  so  bold. 
Ye  grew  immortal  as  ye  heard  them  told  ? 

"  Turn  !  to  your  people  turn  a  pitying  eye, 
To  whom  your  fears  these  happy  seats  deny  ? 
Turn  Î  and  survey  this  fair  this  fertile  land. 
Whose  ready  tribute  waits  your  lordly  hand  ; 
Survey  its  pregnant  mines,  its  sands  of  gold  ; 
Survey  the  flock  now  wandering  from  its  fold, 
Mark  how  it  vainly  seeks,  in  wild  despair. 
The  faithless  shepherd,  who  forsakes  his  care. 
E'en  the  dumb  creatures  of  domestick  kind, 
Though  not  endow'd  with  man's  discerning  mind. 
Now  shew  the  semblance  of  a  reasoning  soul. 
And  in  their  master's  misery  conuole  :  ' 

The  stronger  animals,  of  sterner  heart. 
Take  in  thispublick  woe  a  feeling  part; 
Their  plaintive  roar,  that  speaks  their  sense  aright, 
Justly  upbraids  your  ignominious  flight. 

"  Ye  fly  from  quiet,  opulence,  and  fame, 
Purchas'd  by  valour,  youracknowledg'd  claim  ; 
From  these  ye  fly,  to  seek  a  foreign  seat, 
Where  dastard  fugitives  no  welcome  meet. 
How  deep  the  shame,  an  abject  life  to  spend 
In  poor  dépendance  on  a  pitying  friend  ! 
Turn  ! — Let  the  brave  their  only  choice  await, 
Or  honourable  life,  or  instant  fate. 

"  Return  I  return  !  O  quit  this  path  of  shame  ! 
Stain  not  by  fear  your  yet  unsullied  name; 
Myself  I  offer,  if  our  foes  advance, 
To  rush  the  foremost  on  the  hostile  lance  ; 
My  actions  then  shall  with  my  words  agree, 
And  whet  a  woman  dares  your  eyes  shall  see." 
"  Return  !  i-eturn  !"  she  cried  ;  but  cried  in  vain  ; 
Her  fire  seem'd  frenzy  to  the  coward  train. 

The  dastardly  inhabitants   of  the  city,   unmoved  by  this    re- 
monstrance of  the  noble  Donna  Mencia  de  Nidos,  continue  their 


38 

precipitate  flight,  and,  after  twelve  dayá  of  confusion  and  fatigue, 
reach  the  city  of  Santiago,  in  the  valley  of  Mapocho.  Lautaro  ar- 
rives in  the  mean  time  before  the  walls  they  had  deserted  : — and 
the  Poet  concludes  his  canto  with  a  spirited  description  of  the  bar- 
baric fuiy  with  which  the  Indians  entered  the  abandoned  city,  and 
destroyed  by  fire  the  rich  and  magnificent  mansions  of  their 
Spanish  oppressors. 


CANTO  VIII. 

LAUTARO  is  recalled  from  his  victorious  exploits,  to  assist  at 
a  general  assembly  of  the  Indians,  in  the  valley  of  Arauco.  The 
different  Chieftains  deliver  their  various  sentiments  concerning  the 
war,  after  their  leader  Caupolican  has  declared  his  design  to  pur- 
sue the  Spaniards  with  unceasing  vengeance.  The  veteran  Colo- 
cólo proposes  a  plan  for  their  military  operations.  An  ancient 
Augur,  named  Puchecalco,  denounces  ruin  on  all  the  projects  of 
his  countrymen,  in  the  nan  t  of  the  Indian  Demon  Eponamon.  He 
recites  the  omens  of  their  destruction.  The  fierce  Tucapel,  pro- 
voked to  frenzy  by  this  gloomy  prophet,  strikes  him  dea^  in  the 
midst  of  his  harangue,  with  a  sudden  blow  of  his  mace.  Caupolican 
orders  the  murderous  Chieftain  to  be  led  to  instant  death.  He  de- 
fends himself  with  success  against  numbers  who  attempt  to  seize 
him.  Lautaro, pleased  with  this  exertion  of  his  wonderful  force  and 
valour,  intreats  the  General  to  forgive  what  had  passed  ;  and,  at 
his  intercession,  Tucapel  is  received  into  favour.  Lautaro  then 
closes  the  business  of  the  assembly,  by  recommending  the  plan  pro- 
posed by  Colocólo,  and  intrcating  that  he  may  himself  be  entrusted 
with  a  detached  party  of  five  hundred  Indians,  with  which  he  en- 
gages to  reduce  the  city  of  Santiago.  His  proposal  is  accepted. 
The  Chieftains,  having  finished  their  debate,  declare  their  resolu- 
tions to  their  people  ;  and,  after  their  usual  festivity,  Caupolican, 
with  tlie  main  army,  proceeds  to  attack  the  city  of  Imperial. 


CANTO  IX. 

WHEN  totlie  city's  weak  defenceless  wall 
Its  foes  were  rushing,  at  their  trumpet's  call, 
The  air  grew  troubled  with  portentous  sound, 
And  mournful  omens  multiplied  around  ; 


39 


With  furious  shock  the  elements  engage, 
And  all  the  winds  contend  in  all  their  rage. 

From  clashing  clouds  the  mingled  torrents  gush, 
And  rain  and  hail  with  rival  fury  rush. 
Bolts  of  loud  thunder,  floods  of  lightning  rend 
The  opening  skies,  and  into  earth  descend. 

O'er  the  vast  army  equal  terrors  spread  ; 
No  raind  escapes  the  universal  dread  ; 
No  breast,  tho'  arm'd  with  adamantine  power, 
Holds  its  firm  vigour  in  this  horrid  hour  ; 
For  now  the  fierce  Eponamon  appears, 
And  in  a  Dragon's  form  augments  their  fears  ; 
Involving  flames  around  the  Demon  swell. 
Who  speaks  his  mandate  in  a  hideous  yell  : 
He  bids  his  votaries  with  haste  invest 
The  trembling  city,  by  despair  deprest. 
Whei-e'er  th'  invading  squadrons  force  their  way, 
He  promises  their  arms  an  easy  prey. 
"  Spare  not  (hecry'd)  in  the  relentless  strife. 
One  Spanish  battlement,  one  Christian  lifel" 
He  spoke,  and,  while  the  host  his  will  adore. 
Melts  into  vapour,  and  is  seen  no  more. 

Quick  as  he  vanish'd  Nature's  struggles  cease  ; 
The  troubled  elements  are  sooth'd  to  peace  : 
The  winds  no  longer  rage  with  boundless  ire. 
But  hush'd  in  silence,  to  their  caves  retire  : 
The  clouds  disperse,  restoring  as  they  fly 
The  unobstructed  sun  and  azure  sky  : 
Fear  only  held  its  place,  and  still  possest 
Usurp'd  dominion  o'er  the  boldest  breast. 

The  tempest  ceas'd,  and  heaven,  serenely  bright 
Array'd  themoisten'd  earth  in  joyous  light  ; 
When,  poised  upon  a  cloud  that  swiftly  flew, 
A  female  form  descended  to  their  view, 
Clad  in  the  radiance  of  so  rich  a  veil. 
As  made  the  sun's  meridian  lustre  pale  ; 
For  it  outshone  his  golden  orb  as  far 
As  his  full  blaze  outshines  the  twinkling  star. 
Her  sacred  features  banished  all  their  dread, 
And  o'er  the  host  reviving  comfort  shed. 
An  hoary  Elder  by  her  side  appear'd. 
For  age  and  sanctity  of  life  rcver'd  ; 


40 


And  thus  she  spoke,  -with  soft  persuasive  grace: 
Ah  !  whither  rush  ye,  blind  devoted  race  ? 
Turn,  V/hile  you  can,  towards  your  native  plain, 
Nor  'gainst  yon  city  point  your  arms  in  vain  : 
For  God  will  guard  his  faithful  Christian  band, 
And  give  them  empire  o'er  your  bleeding  land, 
Since,  thankless,  false,  and  obstinate  in  ill. 
You  scorn  submission  to  his  sacred  will. 
Yet  shun  those  walls  ;  th'  Almighty,  there  ador'd. 
There  arms  his  people  with  Destruction's  sword. 

So  spoke  the  Vision,  with  an  angel's  tongue, 
And  thro'  the  spacious  air  to  heaven  she  sprung. 

The  Indians,  confounded  by  this  miraculous  interposition,  dis- 
perse in  disorder  to  their  several  homes.  The  Vision  is  followed  by 
a  pestilence  and  famine  among  the  Indians.  They  remain  inactive 
during  the  winter,  but  assemble  again  the  ensuing  spring,  in  the 
plains  of  Arauco,  to  renew  the  war.  They  receive  intelligence  that 
the  Spaniards  are  attempting  to  rebuild  the  city  of  Conception, 
and  are  requested  by  the  neighbouring  tribes  to  march  to  their 
assistance,  and  prevent  that  design.  Lautaro  leads  a  chosen  band 
on  that  expedition,  hoping  to  surprize  the  fort  the  Spaniards  had 
erected  on  the  ruins  of  their  city  ;  but  the  Spanish  commander, 
Alvarado,  being  apprized  of  their  intention,  salliesforth  to  meet  the 
Indian  party  :  a  skirmish  ensues  ;  the  Spaniards  retire  to  their 
fort  ;  Lautaro  attempts  to  storm  it  ;  a  most  bloody  encounter  en- 
sues; Tucapel  signalizes  himself  in  the  attack;  the  Indians  per- 
bevere  with  the  most  obstinate  valour,  and,  after  a  long  conflict 
(described  with  a  considerable  portion  of  Homerick  spirit)  gain  pos- 
session of  the  fort  ;  Alvarado  and  a  few  of  his  followers  escape  ; 
they  arc  pursued,  and  much  galled  in  their  flight  :  a  single  Indian, 
named  Rengo,  harrasses  Alvarado  and  two  of  his  attendants  ;  the 
Sininifih  officer,  provoked  by  the  insult,  turns  with  his  two  com- 
panions to  punish  their  pursuer  ;  but  the  wily  Indian  secures  him- 
self on  some  rocky  heights,  and  annoys  them  with  his  sling,  till^ 
desparing  of  revenge,  Ihey  continue  their  flight. 


CANTO  X. 

THE  Indians  celebrate  their  victory  with  public  games;  and. 
prizes  are  appointed  for  such  as  excel  in  their  various  martial  ex- 


41 


ercises.  Leucoton  is  declared  victor  in  the  contest  of  throwing  the 
lance,  and  receives  a  scimitar  as  his  reward.  Rengo  subdues  his 
two  rivals,  Cayeguaii  and  Talco,  in  the  exercise  cf  wrestling,  and 
proceeds  to  contend  with  Leucoton.  After  a  long  and  severe  struggle, 
Rengo  has  the  misfortune  to  fall  by  an  accidental  failure  of  the 
ground,  but,  springing  lightly  up,  engages  his  adversary  with  in- 
«reasing  fury  ;  and  the  canto  ends  without  deciding  the  contest. 


CANTO  XI. 

LAUTARO  separates  the  two  enraged  antagonists,  to  prevent 
the  ill  effects  of  their  wrath.  The  youth  Orompello,  whom  Leucoton 
had  before  surpassed  in  the  contest  of  the  lance,  challenges  his 
successful  rival  to  wrestle  :  they  engage,  and  fall  together  :  the 
victory  is  disputed.  Tucapel  demands  the  prize  for  his  young 
friend  Orompello,  and  insults  the  General  Caupolican.  The  latter 
is  restrained  from  avenging  the  insult,  by  the  sage  advice  of  the 
veteran  Colocólo,  at  whose  request  he  distributes  prizes  of  equal 
value  to  each  of  tli-j  claimants.  To  prevent  farther  animosities, 
they  relinquish  therest  of  the  appointed  games,  and  enter  intodebate 
on  the  war.  Lautaro  is  again  appointed  to  the  command  of  a 
chosen  troop,  and  marches  towards  the  city  of  St.  Jago.  The 
Spaniards,  alarmed  at  the  report  of  his  a])proach,  send  out  some 
forces  to  reconnoitre  his  party  :  a  skirmish  ensues  :  they  are  driven 
back  to  the  city,  and  relate  that  Lautari)  is  fortifying  a  strong  post 
at  some  distance,  intending  soon  to  attack  the  city.  Villagran,  who 
commanded  there,  being  confined  by  illness,  appoints  an  officer  of 
his  own  name  to  sally  forth,  with  all  the  forces  he  can  raise,  in 
quest  of  the  enemy.  They  fix  their  camp,  on  the  apjiroach  of 
night,  near  the  fort  of  Lautaro  :  and  are  throvvn  into  an  alarm, 
by  a  horse  turned  loose  by  Lautaro  towards  their  camjj,  as  an  in- 
sulting mode  of  proclaiming  his  late  victory. 

The  Spaniards  pass  the  night  underarms,  resolving  to  attack  the 
Indians  at  break  of  day.  Lautaro  havnig  issued  orders  that  no  Indian 
should  sally  from  the  fort  under  pain  of  death,  to  prevent  the  ad- 
vantage which  the  Spanish  cavalry  must  have  over  his  small  forces 
in  thé  open  plain,  had  also  commanded  his  soldiers  to  retreat  with 
an  appearance  of  dismay,  at  the  first  attack  on  the  fort,  and  suffer 
a  considerable  number  of  the  enemy  to  enter  tlie  place.  This 
stratagem  succeeds  :  the  Spaniards  rush  forward  with  great  fury  : 
the  Indians  give  ground,  but,  soon  turning  with  redoubled  violence 

Vol.  II.  F 


42 


on  tho.se  wlio  had  passed  their  lines,  destroy  many,  and  oblige  the 
rest  to  save  themselves  by  a  precipitate  flight.  The  Indians,  for- 
getting the  or-crsof  their  Leader,  in  the  ardour  of  vengeance  sally 
tbrtli  ill  pursuit  of  their  flying  enemy.  Lautaro  recalls  them  by 
the  sound  of  a  military  horn,  which  he  blows  with  the  utmost  vio>- 
lence.  They  return,  but  dare  not  appear  in  the  presence  of  their 
ofîended  Commander.  He  issues  new  restrictions  ;  and  then  sum- 
moning his  soldiers  together,  addresses  them  in  a  spirited,  yet 
calm  and  affectionate  harangue,  on  the  necessity  of  martial  obedi- 
ence. While  he  is  yet  speaking,  the  Spaniards  return  to  the  at- 
tack, but  are  again  repulsed  with  great  loss.  They  retreat,  and 
«ncamp  at  the  foot  of  the  mountain,  unmolested  by  their  enemies» 


CANTO  XIL 

THE  Spaniards  renaaiu  in  their  camp,  while  two  of  their  ad- 
venturous soldiers  engage  to  return  once  more  to  the  fort,  and  ex- 
amine the  state  of  it.  On  their  approach,  one  of  them  is  saluted 
by  his  name,  and  promised  security,  by  a  voice  from  within  the 
w.iUï.  Lautaro  had  formerly  lived  with  him  on  terms  of  friend- 
ship, and  now  invites  liim  into  the  fort.  The  Indian  Chief  harangues 
on  the  resolution  and  the  power  of  his  countrymen  to  exterminate 
the  Spaniards,  unless  they  submit.  He  proposes,  however,  terms 
of  accommodation  to  his  old  friend,  and  specifies  the  tribute  he 
should  expect.  The  Spaniard  answers  with  disdain,  that  the  only 
tribute  the  Indians  would  receive  from  his  countrymen  would  be 
torture  and  death.  Lautaro  replies,  with  great  temper,  that  arms, 
and  the  valour  of  the  respective  nations,  must  determine  this  point  ; 
and  proceeds  to  entertain  his  guest  with  a  display  of  six  Indians, 
vliom  he  had  mounted  and  trained  to  exercise  on  Spanish  horses. 
Tiie  Spaniard  challenges  the  whole  party  :  Liutaro  will  not  allow^ 
him  to  engage  in  any  conflict,  but  dismisses  him  in  peace.  He  re- 
c.illsliini,  before  he  had  proceeded  far  from  tke  fort,  and,  telling 
him  that  his  soldiers  were  much  distressed  by  the  want  of  provision, 
entreats  him  to  send  a  supply,  affirming  it  to  be  true  heroism  tore- 
lievd  an  enemy  from  the  necessities  of  famine.  The  Spaniard  sub- 
scribes to  tlie  sentiment,  and  engages,  if  possible,  to  comply  with 
tlie  request.  Returning  to  the  camj),  he  acquaints  his  Commander 
\'illugran  with  all  that  had  passed  ;  who,  suspecting  some  danger- 
ous design  frem  Lautaro,  decamps  hastily  in  the  night  to  regain 
the  city.  The  Indian  Chief  is  severely  mortified  by  their  departure, 


43 


as  he  had  formed  a  project  for  cutting  off  their  retreat,  by  letting 
large  currents  of  water  into  the  marshy  ground  on  which  the 
Spaniards  were  encamped.  Despairing  of  being  able  to  succeed 
against  their  city,  now  prepared  to  resist  him,  he  returns  towards 
Arauco,  most  sorely  galled  by  his  disappointment,  and  thus  venting 
his  anguish  : 

What  can  redeem  Lautaro's  wounded  name  ? 
What  plea  preserve  his  failing  arms  from  shame  ? 
Did  not  my  ardent  soul  this  task  demand. 
Which  now  upbraids  my  unperforming  hand  ? 
On  me,  on  me  alone  can  censure  fall  ; 
Myself  th'  adviser  and  the  guide  of  all. 

While,  at  the  head  of  this  my  glittering  train, 
I  weakly  threaten  Spanish  walls  in  vain. 
Thrice  has  pale  Cynthia,  with  replenish'd  ray. 
Seen  my  ill-order'd  troop  in  loose  array  ; 
And  the  rich  chariot  of  the  blazing  sun 
Has  from  the  Scorpion  to  Aquarius  run. 
At  last,  as  fugitives  these  paths  we  tread, 
And  mourn  twice  fifty  brave  companions  dead. 
Could  Fate's  kind  hand  this  hateful  stain  efface. 
Could  death  redeem  me  from  this  worse  disgrace, 
My  useless  spear  should  pierce  this  abject  heart,. 
Which  has  so  ill  sustain'd  a  soldier's  part. 
Unworthy  thought  !  the  mean,  ignoble  blow 
Would  only  tempt  the  proud  and  vaunting  foe 
To  boast  that  I  preferr'd,  in  feai-'s  alarm, 
My  own  weak  weapon  to  his  stronger  arm. 

By  Hell  I  swear,  which  rules  the  sanguine  strife, 
If  Chance  allow  me  yet  a  year  of  life 
I'll  chase  these  foreign  lords  from  Chili's  strand, 
And  Spanish  blood  shall  saturate  our  land. 
No  changing  season,  neither  cold  nor  heat. 
Shall  make  the  firmer  step  of  War  retreat  ; 
Nor  shall  the  earth,  nor  hell's  expanding  cave. 
From  this  avenging  arm  one  Spaniard  save. 

Now  the  brave  Chief,  withsolenui  ardour,  swore 
To  his  dear  native  home  to  turn  no  more  ; 
From  no  fierce  sun,  no  stormy  winds  to  fly, 
But  patiently  abide  the  varying  sky, 
And  spurn  all  thoughts  of  pleasure  and  of  ease, 
Till  rescu'd  fame  his  tortur'd  soul  appease  ; 


44 

Till  earlli  confess  ihc  brave  Lautaro'shand 
Has  clos'd  the  glorious  work  his  spirit  plann'd. 
In  these  resolves  the  Hero  found  relief, 
And  thus  velax'd  the  o'erslrain'd  cord  of  grief  ; 
Whose  pressure  gall'dhim  with  such  mental  pain, 
That  frenzy  almost  sciz'd  his  burning  brain. 

T^autaro  continues  his  march  into  an  Indian  district,  from  which 
he  collects  a  small  increase  of  force  ;  and,  after  addressing  hi» 
soldiers  concerning  the  expediencyof  strict  military  discipline,  and 
the  cause  of  their  late  ill  success,  he  turns  again  towards  the  city 
of  St.  Jago:  hut,  receiving  intelligence  on  his  road  of  its  prepara- 
tions for  defence,  he  again  suspends  his  design,  and  fortifies  a  post, 
■which  he  Chuses  with  the  hope  of  collecting  still  greater  numbers 
to  assist  him  in  his  projected  enterprize.  The  Spaniards  at  St. 
Jago  are  eager  to  sally  in  quest  of  Lautaro,  l)ut  their  commander 
Villagran  was  absent  on  an  expedition  to  the  city  of  Imperial.  In 
returning  from  thence  he  passes  near  the  post  of  Lautaro.  An 
Indian  ally  acquaints  him  with  its  situation,  and,  at  theeai'nest  re- 
quest of  the  Spanish  officer,  agrees  to  conduct  him,  by  a  short 
though  difficult  road,  over  a  mountain,  to  attack  the  fort  by  sur- 
prize. The  Poet  suspends  his  narration  of  tins  interesting  event, 
to  relate  tlie  arrival  of  the  Marquis  de  Cañete  as  Viceroy 
in  Peru,  a¡)d  the  spirited  manner  in  which  he  corrected  the  abuses 
of  tJiat  countrv. 


CANTO  XIII. 

SPANISH  deputies  from  the  province  of  Chili  implore  assistance 
from  the  new  Viceroy  of  Peru  :  he  sends  them  a  considerable  suc- 
cour, under  the  conduct  of  Don  Garcia,  his  son.  The  Poet  is  him- 
self of  this  band,  and  relates  the  splendid  preparations  for  the  en- 
terprize, and  the  embarcation  of  the  troops  in  ten  vessels,  which 
sail  from  Lima  towards  the  coast  of  Chili.  Having  described  part 
of  this  voyage,  he  returns  to  the  bold  exploit  of  Villagran,  and  the 
adventures  of  Lautaro,  the  most  interesting  of  all  the  Araucanian 
Heroes,  whom  he  left  securinghimsclf  in  his  sequestered  fort. 

A  path  where  watchful  centinels  Avere  spread, 
A  single  path,  to  this  lune  station  led  : 


45 


No  other  signs  of  human  step  were  trac'd  ; 
For  the  vcx'd  land  was  desolate  and  waste. 
Ilchanc'd  that  night  the  noble  Chieftain  prest 
His  anxious  mistress  to  his  gallant  breast, 
The  fair  Guacolda,  for  whose  charms  he  burn'd, 
And  whose  warm  heart  his  faithful  love  leturn'd. 
That  night  beheld  the  warlike  savage  rest, 
Free  from  th'  incumbrance  of  his  martial  vest  : 
That  night  alone  allow'd  his  eyes  to  close 
In  the  deceitful  calm  of  short  repose  : 
Sleep  prest  uponhim  like  the  weight  of  death  : 
But  soon  he  starts,  alarm 'd,  and  gasps  for  breath. 
The  fair  Guacolda,  with  a  trembling  tongue. 
Anxious  enquires  from  whence  his  anguish  sprung. 

My  lovely^  Fair  !  the  brave  Lautaro  cries, 
An  hideous  vision  struck  my  scornful  eyes  : 
Methought  that  instant  a  fierce  Chief  of  Spain 
Mock'd  my  vain  spear  with  insolent  disdain  ; 
His  forceful  arm  my  failing  powers  o'ercame, 
And  strength  and  motion  seem'd  to  quit  my  frame. 
But  still  the  vigour  of  my  soul  I  keep, 
And  its  keen  anger  burst  the  bonds  of  sleep. 

With  quick  despair,  the  troubled  Fair  one  said, 
Alas  1  thy  dreams  confirm  the  ills  I  dread. 
'Tis  come — the  object  of  my  boding  fears  ! 
Thy  end,  the  source  of  my  unceasing  tears. 
Yet  not  so  wretched  is  this  mournful  hour, 
Nor  o'er  me,  Fortune,  canst  thou  boast  such  pow'r, 
But  that  kind  death  may  shorten  all  my  woes, 
And  give  the  agonizing  scene  to  close. 
Let  my  stern  fate  its  cruel  rage  employ. 
And  hurl  me  from  the  throne  of  love  and  joy  ; 
Whatever  pangs  its  malice  may  devise. 
It  cannot  rend  affection's  stronger  ties. 
Tho'  horrible  the  blow  my  fears  foresee, 
A  second  blow  will  set  my  spirit  free  ; 
For  cold  on  earth  thy  frame  shall  ne'er  be  found. 
While  mine  with  useless  being  loads  the  ground. 

The  Chief,  transported  with  her  tender  charms, 
Closely  around  her  neck  entwin'd  his  arms  ; 
And,  while  fond  tears  her  snowy  breast  bedew'd, 
Thus  with  redoubled  love  his  speech  pursu'd  : 


46 


My  g<'iicrnus  Fair,  thy  gloomy  thoughls  dismiss  j 
Nor  let  dark  omens  interrupt  our  bliss, 
And  cloud  these  moments  that  with  tranport  shine, 
While  my  exulting  heart  thus  feels  thee  mine. 
Thy  troubled  fancy  prompts  my  mutual  sigh  ; 
Nor  that  I  think  the  hour  of  danger  nigh  : 
But  Love  so  melts  me  with  his  soft  controul, 
Impossibilities  alarm  my  soul. 
If  thy  kind  wishes  bid  Lautaro  live, 
Who  to  this  frame  the  wound  of  death  can  give  ? 
Tho'  'gainst  me  all  the  powers  of  earth  combine, 
My  life  is  subject  to  no  hand  but  thine. 
Who  has  restor'd  the  Araucaniau  name, 
And  rais'd  it,  sinking  in  the  depths  of  shame, 
When  alien  lords  our  nation's  spirit  broke, 
And  bent  its  neck  beneath  a  servile  yoke  ? 
I  am  the  chief  who  burst  our  galling  chain. 
And  freed  my  country  from  oppressive  Spain  ; 
My  name  alone,  without  my  sword's  disjjlay, 
Humbles  our  foes,  and  fills  them  with  dismay. 
These  happy  arms  while  thy  dear  beautiesfill, 
1  feel  no  terroi-,  I  foresee  no  ill. 
Be  uot  by  false  and  empty  dreams  deprest, 
Since  truth  has  nothing  to  afflict  thy  breast. 
Oft  have  I  'scap'd,  iiiur'd  to  every  state, 
From  many  a  darker  precipice  of  fate; 
Oft  in  far  mightier  perils  risk'd  my  life, 
And  issued  glorious  from  the  doubtful  strife. 

With  less'niiig  confidence,  and  deeper  grief, 
Trembling  she  hung  upon  the  soothing  Chief, 
His  lip  with  supplicating  softness  prest, 
And  urg'd  with  many  a  tear  this  fond  request  : 

If  the  pure  love,  which,  prodigal  and  free, 
\Vhen  freedom  most  was  mine,  1  gave  to  thee  ; 
If  truth,  which  Heaven  will  witness  and  defend, 
Weigh  with  my  sovei'eign  lord  and  gentle  friend  ; 
By  these  let  me  adjure  thee  ;  by  the  pain 
Which  at  our  parting  pierc'd  my  every  vein, 
And  all  the  vows,  if  undisi>ers'd  in  air, 
Which  then  with  many  a  tear  I  heard  thee  swear  ; 
To  this  my  only  wish  at  least  agree, 
If  all  thy  wishes  have  been  laws  to  me  ; 


47 


Haste,  I  entreat  thee,  arm  thy  self  with  care, 
And  bid  thy  soldiers  for  defence  prcpai-e. 

The  brave  Barbarian  quick  reply 'd — 'Tis  clear 
How  low  my  powei'S  are  rated  by  thy  fear. 
Canst  thou  so  poorly  of  Lautaro  deem  ? 
And  is  this  arm  so  sunk  in  thy  esteem  ? 
This  arm,  which,  rescuing  thy  native  earth, 
So  prodigally  prov'd  its  valiant  worth  1 
In  my  try'd  courage  how  complete  thy  trust, 
Whose  terror  weeps  thy  living  lord  as  dust  ! 

In  thee,  she  cries,  with  confidence  most  pure, 
My  soul  is  satisfy'd,  yet  not  secure. 
What  will  thy  arm  avail  in  danger's  course, 
If  my  malignant  fate  has  mightier  force  ? 
But  let  the  rais'ry  I  forebode  arise  ; 
On  this  firm  thought  my  constant  love  relies  : 
The  sword  whose  stroke  our  union  may  disjoin, 
Will  teach  my  faithful  soul  to  follow  thine. 
Since  my  hard  destiny,  with  rage  severe. 
Thus  threatens  me  with  all  that  love  can  fear; 
Since  I  am  doom'd  the  worst  of  ills  to  see,  ' 
And  lose  all  earthly  good  in  losing  thee  ; 
O  !  suífer  me  to  pass,  ere  death  appears. 
The  little  remnant  of  my  life  in  tears  i 
The  heart  that  sinks  not  in  distress  like  this, 
Could  never  feel,  could  never  merit  bliss. 

Here  from  her  eyes  such  floods  of  sorrow  flow, 
Compassion  weeps  in  gaxing  on  her  woe  I 
The  fond  Lautaro,  tho' of  firmest  power, 
Sheds,  as  she  speaks,  a  sympathetick  shower. 
But,  to  the  tender  scenes  of  love  unus'd. 
My  artless  pen,  embarrass'd  and  confus'd. 
From  its  sad  task  with  diffidence  withdraws, 
And  in  its  labour  asks  a  little  pause. 


CANTO  XIV. 

WHAT  erring  wretch,  to  Truth  and  Beauty  blind. 
Shall  dai"e  to  satirize  the  Female  kind, 
Since  pure  afifection  prompts  their  anxious  care. 
Their  lovely  weakness,  and  their  fond  despair  î 


48 


This  fair  Bai-barian,  free  from  Christian  ties, 
A  noble  proof  of  perfect  love  supplies, 
By  kindest  words,  and  floods  of  tears  that  roll 
From  the  clear  source  of  her  inipassion'd  soul. 

The  cheei-ing  ardor  of  the  dauntless  Chief 
Fails  to  aflbrd  her  troubled  mind  relief; 
Nor  can  the  ample  trench  and  guarded  wall 
Preserve  her  doubtful  heart  from  fear's  enthrall  : 
Her  terrors,  rushing  with  love's  mighty  force, 
Level  whatever  would  impede  their  course. 
She  finds  no  shelter  from  her  cruel  doom. 
Save  the  dear  refuge  of  Lautaro's  tomb. 

Thus  their  two  hearts,  where  equal  passion  I'eigii'd, 
A  fond  debate  with  tender  strife  maintain'd  ; 
Their  differing  words  alike  their  love  display, 
Feed  the  sweet  poison,  and  augment  its  sway. 

The  sleepy  soldiers  now  their  stories  close. 
And  stretch'd  around  their  sinking  fires  repose. 
The  patli  in  front  with  centiacls  was  lin'd. 
And  the  high  mountain  was  their  guard  behind  ; 
But  o'er  that  mountain,  with  advent'rous  tread, 
Bold  Villagran  his  silent  forces  led. 
His  hasty  march  with  painful  toil  he  made  ; 
Toil  IS  the  price  that  must  for  fame  be  paid. 
Now  near  the  fort,  and  halting  in  its  sight, 
He  wails  the  coming  aid  of  clearer  light. 
The  stars  yet  shining,  but  their  fires  decay, 
And  now  the  reddening  East  proclaims  the  day. 
Th'  advancing  troop  no  Indian  eye  alarms. 
For  friendly  darkness  hover'd  o'er  their  arms  ; 
And  on  the  quarter  where  the  mountain  rose, 
The  careless  guard  despis'd  the  thought  of  foes. 
No  panting  horse  their  still  approach  betray'd  ; 
Propitious  Fortune  lent  the  Spaniards  aid; 
Fortune,  who  oft  bids  drowsy  sloth  beware. 
And  lulls  to  sleep  the  watchful  eye  of  Care. 

When  Night's  obscure  dominion  first  declines, 
And  glimmering  light  the  dusky  air  refines. 
The  weary  guards,  who  round  the  wall  were  plac'd. 
Hail  the  new  day,  and  from  their  station  haste  ; 
Secure  of  ill,  no  longer  watch  they  keep. 
Quick  to  forgot  their  nightly  toils  in  sleep  : 


49 

Thro'  all  the  fort  there  reign 'd  a  calm  profcund  ; 
In  wine  and  slumber  all  its  force  was  drown'd. 

The  Spanish  Chief,  who  saw  the  fav'ring  hour, 
Led  on  by  slow  degrees  his  silent  power. 
No  Indian  eye  perceiv'd  his  near  advance  ; 
Fate  seera'dto  bind  them  in  a  cruel  trance  ; 
Each  in  sound  slumber  draws  his  easy  breath, 
Nor  feels  his  slumber  will  be  clos'd  by  Death. 
So  blind  are  mortals  to  that  tyrant's  sway, 
They  deem  him  distant,  while  they  sink  his  prey. 

Our  eager  soldiers  now  no  longer  halt. 
While  kind  occasion  prompts  the  keen  assault  ; 
A  shout  they  raise,  terrifick,  loud,  and  long, 
Swell'd  by  the  voice  of  all  the  ardent  throng  ; 
Whose  ranks,  obedient  to  their  Leader's  call. 
Rush  with  light  ardour  o'er  th'  unguarded  wall, 
And  gain  the  fort,  where  Sleep's  oppressive  weight 
Exposed  his  wretched  victims,  blind  to  fate. 

As  villians,  conscious  of  their  life  impure, 
Find  in  their  guilty  course  no  spot  secure  ; 
(For  vice  is  ever  doom'd  new  fears  to  feel, 
And  tremble  at  each  turn  of  Fortune's  wheel) 
At  every  noise,  at  each  alarm  that  stirs. 
Death's  penal  horror  to  their  mind  occurs  ; 
Quick  to  their  arms  they  fly  with  wild  dismay, 
And  rush  where  hasty  terror  points  the  way  : 
So  quick  the  Indians  to  the  tumult  came. 
With  sleep  and  valour  struggling  in  their  frame, 
Unaw'd  by  danger's  unexpected  sight. 
They  rouse  their  fellows,  and  they  rush  to  fight. 
Tho'  their  brave  bosoms  arc  of  armour  bare, 
Tlieir  manly  hearts  their  martial  rage  declare. 
No  furious  odds  their  gallant  souls  appall, 
But  resolute  they  fly  to  guard  the  wall. 

It  was  the  season  when,  with  tender  care, 
Lautaro  reason'd  with  his  anxious  Fair  ; 
Carest,  consol'd,  and,  in  his  anger  kind, 
Mildly  i-eprov'd  her  weak  mistrusting  mind. 
Spite  of  his  cheering  voice  she  trembles  still  ; 
Severer  terrors  now  her  bosoin  fill  : 
For  sterner  sounds  their  soft  debate  o'ercome, 
Drown'd  in  the  rattle  of  th'  alarming  drum. 
Vol.  II.  G 


50 

But  not  so  quick,  on  Apprehension's  wings, 

The  wretched  miser  from  his  pillow  springs, 

Whose  hoarded  gold  forbids  his  mind  to  rest, 

If  doubtful  noise  the  nightly  thief  suggest  : 

Nor  yet  so  hasty,  tho'  with  terror  wild, 

Flies  the  fond  mother  to  her  wounded  child, 

Whose  painful  cry  her  shuddering  soul  alarms, 

As  flew  Lautaro  at  the  sound  of  arms. 

His  mantle  rapidly  around  him  roll'd. 

And,  grasping  a  light  sword  with  hasty  hold, 

Too  eager  for  his  heavier  arms  to  wait, 

'I'he  fierce  Barbarian  hurried  to  the  gate. 

O  faithless  Fortune  !  thou  deceitful  friend  ! 

Of  thy  false  favours  how  severe  the  end  ! 

How  quick,  thou  cancell'st,  when  thy  frown  appears, 

Th'  accumulated  gifts  of  long  triumphant  years  ! 

To  aid  the  Spaniards  in  their  bold  emprize, 
Four  hundred  Indians  march'd,  their  firm  allies, 
Who  on  the  left  their  line  of  battle  close. 
And  haste  to  combat  with  their  painted  bows  ; 
Launching  adroitly,  in  their  rapid  course, 
IJnnumber'd  arrows  with  unerring  force. 
As  brave  Lautaro  issued  from  his  tent, 
A  shaft  to  meet  the  sallying  Chief  was  sent  ; 
Thro'  his  left  side  (ye  valiant,  mourn  his  lot  !) 
Flew  the  keen  arrow,  with  such  fury  shot 
It  pierc'd  his  heart,  the  bravest  and  the  best 
That  e'er  was  lodg'd  within  a  human  breast. 
Proud  of  the  stroke  that  laid  such  valour  low, 
Death  ieem'd  to  glory  in  the  im])ortant  blow  j 
And  that  no  Mortal  might  his  triumph  claim. 
In  darkness  hid  the  doubtful  Archer's  name. 
Such  force  the  keen  resistless  weapon  found, 
Itstretch'd  the  mighty  Chieftain  on  the  ground, 
And  gave  large  outlet  to  his  ardent  blood. 
That  gush'd  apace  in  a  tumultuous  flood. 
From  his  sunk  cheek  its  native  colour  fled  ; 
His  sightless  eyes  roU'd  in  his  ghastly  head  ; 
His  soul,  that  felt  its  glorious  hopes  o'erthrown, 
Retir'd,  indignant, to  the  worUl  u^iknown. 

The  noble  savages,  not  dismayed  by  the  death  of  their  Leader, 
continue  to  defend  the  fort  with  great  fury. 


51 


CANTO  XV. 

THE  Poet  proceeds  to  describe  the  sharp  contest  which  the  un- 
daunted Indians  still  maintained  in  their  fort  :  they  refuse  quarter, 
which  is  oiFered  them  by  the  Spanish  Leader,  and  all  resolutely 
perish  with  their  brave  and  beloved  Lautaro.  The  Poet  then  resumes 
his  account  of  the  naval  expedition  from  Peru  to  Chili  ;  and  concludes 
the  canto  with  a  spirited  description  of  a  storm,  which  attacked 
the  vessels  as  they  arrived  in  sight  of  the  province  to  which  they 
were  steering. 


CANTO  XVL 

THE  storm  abates.  Tlie  Spaniards  land,  and  fortify  them- 
selves on  an  island  near  the  country  of  the  Araucanians.  The  latter 
hold  a  council  of  war  in  the  valley  of  Ongolmo.  Caupolican,  their 
General,  proposes  to  attack,  the  Spaniards  in  their  new  post.  The 
elder  Chieftains  dissuade  him  from  the  design.  A  quari-el  ensues 
between  Tucapel  and  the  aged  Peteguelen  :  they  are  appeased  by 
a  speech  of  the  venerable  Colocólo  ;  by  whose  advice  a  spirited 
and  adroit  young  Indian,  named  Millalanco,  is  dispatched,  as  a 
peaceful  ambassador,  to  learn  the  situation  and  designs  of  the 
Spaniards.  He  embarks  in  a  large  galley  with  oars,  and  soon  ar- 
rives at  the  island.  He  surveys  the  Spanish  implements  of  war 
with  astonishment,  and  is  conducted  to  the  tent  of  the  General, 
Don  Garcia,  " 


CANTO  XVII  &  XVIII. 

THE  Indian  addresses  the  Spanish  officers  with  a  proposal  of 
peace  and  amity.  He  is  dismissed  with  presents.  The  Chieftains, 
on  his  return,  pretend  to  relinquish  hostilities  ;  but  pi-epare  secret- 
ly for  war.  The  Spaniards  remain  unmolested  on  the  island  dur- 
ing the  stormy  season.  They  send  a  select  party  of  an  hundred 
and  thirty,  including  our  Poet,  to  raise  a  fort  on  the  continent  : 
these  execute  their  commission  with  infinite  dispatch,  and  all  the 
Spanish  troops  remove  to  this  new  post.  The  Araucanians  are 
alarmed.  An  intrepid  Youth,  named  Gracolano,  proposes  to  the 
Indian  General  Caupolican,  to  storm  the  fort.  The  Indians  ad- 
vance near  it,  under  shelter  of  the  night.    The  Poet  describes  a 


52 

vision  Cl  dream  cf  his  from  which  he  is  roused  by  the  sound  of  an 
alarm.  He  snalchcs  up  his  arms,  ami  hurries  to  his  post  :  the 
morning  dawns,  and  the  Indians  begin  to  attack  the  fort. 


CANTO  XIX. 

THE  Indians  advance  in  three  squadrons.  The  Youth  Graco- 
lano  o'erleaps  the  trench,  supported  on  a  lofty  pike,  by  which  he 
also  passes  the  wall.  He  defends  himself  in  the  midst  of  the  Spa- 
niards with  great  spirit;  but,  finding  himself  unsupported,  he 
wrenches  a  lance  from  a  Spanish  soldier,  and  tries  to  leap  once 
more  over  the  trench  ;  but  he  is  sti-uck  by  a  stone  while  vaulting 
through  the  air,  and  falls,  covered,  as  the  Poet  expressly  declares, 
with  two-and-thirty  wounds.  Some  of  his  friends  are  shot  near 
him  ;  but  the  Indians  get  possession  of  the  Spanish  lance  with 
which  he  had  sprung  over  the  wall,  and  brandish  it  in  triumph. 
The  Spaniard,  named  Elvira,  who  had  lost  his  weapon,  piqued 
by  the  adventure,  sallies  from  the  fort,  and  returns,  amid  the  shouts 
of  his  countrymen,  with  an  Indian  spear  which  he  won  in  single 
combat  from  a  Barbarian,  whom  he  had  perceived  detached  from 
his  party.  The  Indians  attempt  to  storm  the  fort  on  every  side: 
many  are  destroyed  by  the  Spanish  fire  arms.  The  head  of  the 
ancient  Peteguelen  is  shot  off;  but  Tucapel  passes  the  wall,  and 
rushes  with  great  slaughter  into  the  midst  of  the  enemy.  The 
Spaniards  who  were  in  the  ships  that  anchored  near  the  coast  hasten 
on  shore,  and  march  to  assist  their  countrymen  in  the  fort,  but  are 
attacked  by  a  party  of  Indians  in  their  march.  The  conflict  continues 
furious  on  the  walls  ;  but  the  Indians  at  length  retreat,  leaving 
Tucapel  still  fighting  within  the  fort. 


CANTO  XX. 

TUCAPEL,  though  severely  wounded,  escapes  with  life,  and 
rejoins  the  Indian  army,  which  continues  to  retreat.  The  Spaniards 
sally  from  the  foi-t,  but  soon  return  to  it,  from  the  apprehension  of 
an  ambuscade.  They  clear  their  trench,  and  strengthen  the 
•weaker  parts  of  their  fortification.  Night  comes  on.  The  Poet 
describes  himself  as  stationed  on  a  little  eminence  in  the  plain  below 
the  fort,  which  was  seated  on  high  and  rocky  ground  :  fatigued 


53 

with  the  toils  of  the  day,  and  oppressed  by  the  weight  of  his  ar- 
mour, which  he  continues  to  wear  :  he  is  troubled  witli  a  lethargick 
heaviness,  which  he  counteracts  by  exci'cisc,  declaring  that  his 
disposition  to  slumber  in  his  post  arose  not  from  any  intcmpci'ance 
either  in  diet  or  in  wine,  as  mouldy  biscuit  and  rain-water  had  been 
for  some  time  his  chief  sustenance  :  and  that  he  was  accustomed  to 
make  the  moist  earth  his  bed,  and  to  divide  his  time  between  his 
poetical  and  his  military  labours.  He  then  relates  the  following 
nocturnal  adventure,  which  may  perhaps  be  considered  as  the  most 
striking  and  pathetick  incident  in  this  singular  poem  : 

While  thus  I  strove  my  nightly  watch  to  keep, 
And  struggled  with  th'  oppressive  weight  of  sleep, 
As  my  quick  feet,  with  many  a  silent  stride, 
Travers'd  th'  allotted  ground  from  side  to  side, 
My  eye  perceiv'd  one  quarter  of  the  plain 
White  with  the  mingled  bodies  of  the  slain  ; 
For  our  incessant  fire  that  bloody  day 
Had  slaughter'd  numbers  in  the  stubborn  fray. 

As  oft  I  paus'd  each  distant  noise  to  hear, 
Gazing  around  me  with  attentive  ear, 
I  heard  frooi  time  to  time  a  feeble  sound 
Towards  the  breathless  Indians  on  the  ground, 
Still  closing  with  a  sigh  of  mournful  length  ; 
At  every  interval  it  gather'd  strength  ; 
And  now  it  ceas'd,  and  now  again  begun, 
And  still  from  corse  to  corse  it  seera'd  to  run. 
As  night's  encreasing  shade  my  hope  destroys. 
To  view  the  source  of  this  uncertain  noise. 
Eager  my  mind's  unquiet  doubts  to  still, 
And  more  the  duties  of  my  post  fulfil. 
With  crouching  steps  I  haste,  and  earnest  eyes. 
To  the  low  spot  from  whence  the  murmurs  rise  ; 
And  see  a  dusky  Form,  that  seems  to  ti-ead 
Slow,  on  four  feet,  among  the  gory  dead. 

With  terror,  tJiat  my  heart  will  not  deny, 
When  this  strange  vision  struck  my  doubtful  eye, 
Towards  it,  with  a  prayer  to  Heav'n,  I  prest. 
Arms  in  my  hand,  my  corselet  on  my  breast  ; 
But  now  the  dusky  Form,  on  which  I  sprung, 
Upright  arose,  and  spoke  with  plaintive  tongue  : 


54 


Mercy  !  tQ  mercy  hear  my  just  pretence; 
I  am  a  woman,  guiltless  of  offence  ! 
If  my  distress,  and  unexampled  plight, 
No  generous  pity  in  thy  breast  excite  ; 
If  thy  blood-thirsty  rage,  by  tears  uncheck'd, 
Would  pass  those  limits  which  the  brave  respect  ; 
Will  such  a  deed  encrease  thy  martial  fame. 
When  Heaven's  just  voice  shall  to  the  world  proclaim 
That  by  thy  ruthless  sword  a  woman  died, 
A  widow,  sunk  in  sorrow's  deepest  tide  ? 
Yet  I  implore  thee,  if  'twas  hap'ly  thine. 
Or  for  thy  curse,  as  now  I  feel  it  mine  ; 
If  e'er  thy  lot,  in  any  state,  to  prove 
How  firm  the  faithful  ties  of  tender  love, 
O  let  me  bury  one  brave  warrior  slain, 
Whose  corse  lies  blended  with  this  breathless  train  ! 
Remember,  he  who  thwarts  the  duteous  will 
Becomes  th'  approver  and  the  cause  of  ill. 

Thou  wilt  not  hinder  these  my  pious  vows  ; 
War,  fiercest  war,  this  just  demand  allows; 
The  basest  tyranny  alone  is  driven 
To  use  the  utmost  power  that  chance  has  given. 
Let  but  my  soul  its  dear  companion  find, 
Then  sate  thy  fury,  iftoblocd  inclin'd; 
For  in  such  gi-ief  Idraw  my  lingering  breath. 
Life  is  my  dread,  beyond  the  pangs  of  death. 
There  is  no  ill  that  now  can  wound  my  breast, 
No  good,  but  what  I  in  my  Love  possest  : 
Fly  then,  ye  hours  !  that  keep  me  from  the  dead  ; 
For  he,  the  spirit  of  my  life,  is  fled. 
If  adverse  Heaven  my  latest  wish  deny, 
Ou  his  dear  corse  to  fix  my  closmg  eye. 
My  tortur'd  soul,  in  cruel  Fate's  despight, 
Will  soar,  the  faitliful  partner  of  his  flight. 

And  now  lier  agony  of  heart  implor'd 
An  end  of  all  her  sorrows  from  my  sword. 
Doubt  and  distrust  my  troubled  mind  assail. 
That  fears  deceit  in  her  aíFectingtale  ; 
Nor  was  I  fully  of  her  faith  secure. 
Till  oft  her  words  the  mournful  truth  insure  ; 
Suspicion  whisper'd,  that  an  artful  spy 
By  this  illusion  might  our  state  descry. 


55 

Howe'er  inclin'd  io  doubt,  yet  soon  I  knew, 
Though  night  couceal'd  her  features  from  mj'  view, 
That  truth  was  stamp'd  on  every  word  she  sí;  id  ; 
So  full  of  grief,  so  free  from  guilty  dread  : 
And  that  bold  love,  to  every  danger  blind, 
Had  sent  her  forth  her  slaughter'd  Lord  to  fnul, 
Who  in  the  onset  of  our  bloody  strife, 
For  brave  distinction  sacrifis'd  his  life. 

Fill'd  with  compassion,  when  I  saw  her  bent 
To  execute  her  chaste  and  fond  intent, 
I  led  her  weeping  to  the  higher  spot. 
To  guard  whose  precincts  was  that  night  my  lot  ; 
Securely  there  I  begg'd  her  to  relate 
The  perfect  story  of  her  various  fate  ; 
From  first  to  last  her  touching  woes  imparl, 
And  by  the  tale  relieve  her  loaded  heart. 

Ah  !  she  replied,  relief  I  ne'er  can  know, 
Till  Death's  kind  aid  shall  terminate  my  woe  ¡ 
Earth  for  my  ills  no  remedy  supplies, 
Beyond  all  sufF'rancc  my  afflictions  rise  :  i 

Yet,  though  the  task  will  agonize  my  soul, 
Of  my  sad  story  I  will  tell  the  whole  ; 
Grief,  thus  inforc'd,  my  life's  weak  thread  may  rend, 
And  in  the  killing  tale  my  pangs  may  end. 

The  fair  Indian  then  relates  to  Ercilla  the  particulars  of  her 
life,  in  a  speech  of  considerable  length  : — she  informs  him,  that 
her  name  is  Tegualda  ; — that  she  is  the  daughter  of  the  Chieftain 
Brancol  ; — that  her  father  had  often  i)ressed  her  to  marry,  which 
she  had  for  some  time  declined,  though  solicited  by  many  of  the 
noblest  Youths  in  her  country  ;  till,  being  appointed,  in  compli- 
ment to  her  beauty,  to  distribute  the  prizes,  in  a  scene  of  public 
festivity,  to  those  who  excelled  in  the  manly  exercises,  she  was 
struck  by  the  accomplishments  of  a  gallant  Youth,  named  Crcpino, 
as  she  bestowed  on  him  the  reward  of  his  victories  ; — that  she 
declared  her  choice  to  her  father,  after  perceiving  the  Youth  in- 
spired with  a  mutual  affection  for  her  ; — that  the  old  Chieftain 
was  delighted  by  her  chusing  so  noble  a  character,  and  their  mar- 
riage had  been  publickly  solemnized  but  a  month  from  that  day. 
On  this  conclusion  of  her  story,  she  bursts  into  new  agonies  of 
grief,  and  intreats  Ercilla  to  let  her  pay  her  last  duties  to  her  hus- 
band ;  or  rather,  to  unite  them  again  iu  a  common  grave,   Ercilla 


56 

endeavours  to  console  her,  by  repeated  promises  of  all  the  assist  • 
anee  in  his  power.  In  the  most  passionate  excess  of  sorrow,  she 
still  entreats  him  to  end  her  miserable  life. — In  this  distressing 
scene,  our  Author  is  relieved  by  the  arrival  of  a  brother  officer, 
■who  had  been  also  stationed  on  the  plain,  and  now  informs  Ercilla 
that  the  time  of  their  appointed  watch  is  expii-ed.  They  join  in 
comforting  the  unhappy  Mourner,  and  conduct  her  into  the  fort  ; 
where  they  consign  her,  for  the  remainder  of  the  night,  to  t/ic 
decent  care  of  married  luoineny  to  use  the  chaste  expression  of  the 
generous  and  compassionate  Ercilla. 


CANTO  XXI. 

IN  pure  aiïectirîn  who  has  soar'd  above 
The  tender  pious  proof  of  faithful  love. 
Which  thus  awak'd  our  sympathetick  care 
For  this  unhappy,  fond,  barbarian  Fair? 

0  that  just  Fame  my  humble  voice  would  raise 
To  swell  in  loudest  notes  her  lasting  praise  ! 
To  spread  her  merits,  in  immortal  rhyme. 
Through  every  language  and  through  every  clime  ! 

With  pitying  females  she  the  night  remain'd, 
Where  no  rude  step  their  privacy  i)rofan'd  ; 
Though  wretched,  thankful  for  their  soothing  aid, 
\\' ith  hopes  her  duty  would  at  length  be  paid. 

Soon  as  the  welcome  light  of  morning  came, 
Tiiough  soundest  sleep  had  seiz'd  my  wearied  frame, 
Though  my  tir'd  limbs  were  still  to  rest  inclin'd, 
Solicitude  awak'd  my  anxious  mind. 
Quick  to  my  Indian  Mourner  I  repair, 
And  still  in  tears  I  find  the  restless  Fair  ; 
Tiie  varj  iiig  hours  afford  her  no  relief, 
No  transient  momentary  pause  of  grief. 
With  truest  pity  I  her  pangs  assuage  ; 
To  find  her  slaughter'd  Lord  my  word  engage  ; 
Restore  his  corse,  and,  with  a  martial  band, 
Escort  her  safely  to  her  native  land. 
With  blended  doubt  and  sorrow,  weeping  still, 
Mypromis'd  word  she  pray'd  me  to  fulfil. 

Assembling  now  a  menial  Indian  train, 

1  led  her  to  explore  the  bloody  plain  : 


57 


Where  heaps  of  mingled  dead  dcform'd  the  ground, 
Near  to  the  fort  the  breathless  Chief  we  found  ; 
Clay-cold  and  stiff,  the  gory  earth  he  prest, 
A  fatal  ball  had  pierc'd  his  manly  breast. 

Wretched  Tegualda,  who  before  her  view'd 
The  pale  disfigur'd  ferni,  in  blood  imbru'd, 
Sprung  forward,  and  with  instantaneous  force 
Frantick  she  darted  on  the  precious  corse, 
And  press'd  his  lips,  where  livid  death  appears, 
And  bath'd  his  wounded  bosom  in  her  tears. 
And  kiss'd  the  wound,  and  the  wild  hope  pursues 
That  her  fond  breath  may  yet  new  life  infuse. 

Wretch  that  I  am  !  at  length  she  madly  cried. 
Why  does  my  soul  these  agonies  abide  ? 
Why  do  I  linger  in  this  mortal  strife. 
Nor  pay  to  Love  his  just  demand,  my  life  ? 
Why,  poor  of  spirit  !  at  a  single  blow 
Do  I  not  close  this  bitter  scene  of  woe  ? 
Whence  this  delay  ?  will  Heaven  to  me  deny 
The  wretch's  choice  and  privilege,  to  die  ? 

While,  bent  on  death,  in  this  despair  she  gasp'd, 
Her  furious  hands  her  snowy  neck  inclasp'd  ; 
Failing  her  frantick  wish,  they  do  not  spare 
Her  mournful  visage  nor  her  flowing  hair. 
Much  as  I  strove  to  stop  her  mad  intent. 
Her  fatal  purpose  I  could  scarce  prevent  : 
So  loath'd  she  life,  and  with  such  fierce  controul 
The  raging  thirst  of  death  inflam'd  her  soul. 

When  by  my  pi-ayers,  and  soft  persuasion's  balm, 
Her  pangs  of  sorrow  grew  a  little  calm. 
And  her  mild  speech  confirm'd  my  hope,  at  last. 
That  her  delirious  agony  was  past, 
My  ready  Indian  train,  with  duteous  haste, 
On  a  firm  bier  the  clay-cold  body  plac'd. 
And  bore  the  Warrior,  in  whose  fate  we  griey'd, 
To  where  her  vassals  the  dear  charge  receiv'd. 
But,  lest  from  ruthless  War's  outrageous  sway 
The  mourning  Fair  might  suffer  on  her  way, 
O'er  the  near  mountains,  to  a  safer  land, 
I  march'd  to  guard  her  with  my  warlike  band  ; 

Vol-  II.  H 


58 


,  And  tlicre  secure,  for  the  remaining  road 

Was  clear  and  open  to  her  own  abode, 
She  gratefully  declin'd  my  farther  care, 
And  tliank'd  andbless'dme  in  u  parting  prayer. 

On  Ercilla's  return,  the  Spaniards  continue  to  strengthen  their 
fort.  They  receive  intelligence  from  an  Indian  ally,  that  the  Barba- 
rian army  intend  a  fresh  assault  in  the  night.  They  are  relieved  from 
this  alarm  by  the  arrival  of  a  large  reinforcement  from  the  Spa- 
nish cities  in  Chili: — on  which  event  Colocólo  prevails  on  the  In- 
dians to  suspend  the  attack.  Caupolican,  the  Indian  General, 
reviews  all  his  forces  ;  and  the.  various  Chieftains  are  well  des- 
cribed. The  Spanish  Commander,  Don  Garcia,  being  now  deter- 
mined to  march  into  the  hostile  district  of  Arauco,  addresses  his 
soldiers  in  a  spirited  harangue,  requesting  them  to  remember  the 
pious  cause  for  which  they  fight,  auvl  to  spare  the  life  of  every 
Indian  who  is  disposed  to  submission.  They  remove  from  their 
post,  and  pass  in  boats  over  the  broad  river  Biobio. 


CANTO  XXII. 

THE  Spaniards  are  attacked  in  their  new  quarters — a  furious 
battle  ensues.  The  Spaniards  are  forced  to  give  ground,  but  at 
last  prevail  The  Indian  Chief,  Rengo,  signalizes  himself  in  the 
action  ;  defends  himself  in  a  mar&h,  and  retreats  in  good  order 
with  his  forces.  The  Spaniards,  after  the  conflict,  seize  an  un- 
hapjjy  straggling  Youth,  named  Galvaiino,  whom  they  punish  as 
il  rebel  in  the  most  barbarous  manner,  by  cutting  off  both  his 
hands.  The  valiant  Youth  defies  their  cruelty  in  the  midst  of 
this  horrid  scene;  and,  brandishing  his  bloody  stumps,  departs 
from  his  oppressors  with  the  most  insulting  menaces  of  revenge. 


CANTO  XXllI  Sc  XXI\'. 

GALVARINO  appears  in  the  Assembly  of  the  Indian  Chieftains, 
and  excites  them,  in  a  very  animated  speech,  to  revenge  the  bar- 
barity with  which  he  had  been  treated.  He  faints  from  loss  of 
blood,  in  the  close  of  his  harangue,  but  is  recovered  by  the  care 
of  his  friends,  and  restored  to  health.    The  Indians,  exasperated 


59 


by  the  sight  of  his  wounds,  unanimously  determine  to  prosecute 
the  war.  The  Spaniards,  advancing  in  Ai-auco,  send  forth  scouts 
to  discover  the  disposition  of  the  neighbouring  tribes,  among 
whom  are  Ercilhi,  who  rehites  a  singular  adventure  that  occurred 
to  him,  in  consequence  of  which  he  is  conducted  to  the  cave  of 
Fiton,  an  old  Indian  necromancer,  by  whom  he  is  shewn,  in  a  large 
lucid  globe,  of  wonderful  workmanship,  a  great  variety  of  mar- 
vellous sights,  among  others  the  celebrated  sea-fight  of  Lepanto  ; 
after  which,  taking  leave  of  the  magician,  he  returns  to  the  camp. 
The  Spaniards  continue  to  advance:  on  their  pitching  their  camp 
in  a  new  spot,  towards  evening,  an  Araucanian,  fantastically  drest 
in  armour,  enquires  for  the  tent  of  Don  Garcia,  and  is  conducted 
to  his  presence. 


CANTO  XXV. 

THE  Araucanian  delivers  a  defiance  to  Don  Garcia,  in  the 
name  of  Caupolican,  who  challenges  the  Spanish  General  to  end 
the  war  by  a  single  combat.  The  messenger  adds,  that  the  whole 
Indian  army  will  descend  into  the  plain,  on  the  next  morning,  to 
be  spectators  of  the  duel.  Don  Garcia  dismisses  him  with  an  ac- 
ceptance of  the  challenge.  At  the  dawn  of  day  the  Indian  forces 
appear  in  three  divisions.  A  party  of  Spanish  horse  precipitately 
attack  their  left  wing,  before  which  Caupolican  ivas  advancing. 
They  are  repulsed.  A  genei-al  and  obstinate  engagement  ensues. 
The  mangled  Galvarino  appears  at  the  head  of  an  Indian  squadron, 
and  excites  his  countrymen  to  revenge  his  wrongs.  Many  Spaniards 
are  named  who  distinguish  themselves  in  the  battle.  Among  the 
Indian  Chiefs  Tucapel  and  Rengo  display  the  most  splendid  acts 
of  valour;  and,  though  personal  enemies,  they  mutually  defend 
e;\ch  other.  Caupolican  also,  at  the  head  of  the  left  squadron, 
obliges  the  Spaniards  to  retreat  ;  and  the  Araucanians  are  on  the 
point  of  gaining  a  decisive  victory,  when  the  fortune  of  the  day 
begins  to  turn. 


CANTO  XX VI  8c  XXVII. 

THE   reserved  guard  of  the  Spaniards,  in  which  Ercilla  was 
stationed,  advancing  to  the  cliai-ge,  recover  the  field,  and  oblige 


60 

the  main  body  of  the  Indians  to  fly,  Caupolican,  though  victorious 
in  his  quarter,  sounds  a  retreat  when  he  perceives  this  event. 
The  Indians  fly  in  great  disorder.  Rengo  tor  some  time  sustains 
an  unequal  conflict,  and  at  last  retreats  sullenly  into  a  wood,  where 
lie  collects  several  of  the  scattered  fugitives.  As  Ercilla  ad- 
vances towards  this  spot,  a  Spaniard,  called  Remon,  exhorts  him 
by  name  to  attempt  the  dangerous  but  important  exploit  of 
forcing  this  Indian  party  from  the  wood.  His  honour  being 
thus  piqued,  he  i-ushes  forward  with  a  few  followers,  and,  after 
an  obstinate  engagement,  in  Avhich  many  of  the  Indians  arc  cut 
to  pieces,  the  Spaniards  obtain  the  victory,  and  return  to  their 
camp  with  several  prisoners.  After  this  great  defeat  of  the  Indian 
army,  the  Spaniards,  to  deter  their  enemies  from  all  future 
resistance,  barbai-ously  resolve  to  execute  twelve  Chieftains  of 
distinction,  whom  they  find  among  their  captives,  and  to  leave 
their  bodies  exposed  «n  the  trees  that  surrounded  the  field  of 
battle.  The  generous  Ercilla,  lamenting  this  inhuman  sentence, 
intercedes  particularly  for  the  life  of  one,  alledging  that  he  had 
seen  him  united  with  the  Spaniards.  This  person  proves  to  be 
Galvarino  ;  who,  on  hearing  the  intercession  for  his  life,  produces 
liis  mangled  arms,  which  he  had  concealed  in  his  bosom,  and, 
giving  vent  to  his  detestation  of  the  Spaniards,  insists  on  dying 
with  his  countrymen.  Ercilla  persists  in  vain  in  his  endeavour  to 
save  him.  As  no  executioner  could  be  found  among  the  Spanish 
soldiers,  a  new  mode  of  destruction,  says  our  Poet,  was  invented  ; 
and  every  Indian  was  ordered  to  terminate  his  own  life  by  a  cord 
which  was  given  him.  These  brave  men  hastened  to  accomplish 
their  fate  Avith  as  much  alacritj-,  continues  Ercilla,  as  the  most 
spirited  warrior  marches  to  an  attack.  One  alone  of  the  twelve 
begins  to  hesitate,  and  pray  for  mercy  ;  declaring  himself  the 
lineal  descendant  of  the  iiiost  ancient  race,  and  sovereign  of  the 
country.  He  is  interrupted  by  the  reproaches  of  the  impetuous 
Galvarino,  and,  repenting  his  timidity,  atones  for  it  by  instant  death. 
The  Spaniards  advance  still  farther  in  the  country,  and  raise  a 
fort  where  Valdivia  had  perished.  Ercilla  finds  his  old  friend  the 
Magician  once  more,  who  tells  him  that  Heaven  had  thought  proper 
to  punish  the  pride  of  the  Araucanians  by  their  late  defeat  ;  but  that 
the  Spaniards  would  soon  pay  dearly  for  their  present  triumph. 
After  this  pro])hecy  he  retires,  and  Avilh  much  reluctance  is  per- 
suaded by  Ercilla  to  let  him  follow  him  into  his  cavern,  where  he 
again  gratifies  him  with  a  sight  of  the  miraculous  globe,  and  points 


61 

out  to  him  on  it  the  various  nations  of  the  earth  ;  after  which  he 
conducts  him  to  the  road  leading  to  the  Spanish  camp,  where 
his  soldiers  were  anxiously  seeking  him.  The  Spaniards  in  vain 
attempt  to  soothe  and  to  terrify  the  Araucanians  into  peace  ;  and 
finding  the  importance  of  their  present  post,  they  determine  to 
strengthen  it.  Ercilla  proceeds  with  a  party  to  the  city  of  Im- 
perial, to  provide  necessai'ies  for  this  purpose.  On  his  return, 
as  he  is  marching  through  the  country  of  some  pacifick  Indians,  he 
discovers,  at  tlie  close  of  day,  a  distrest  female,  who  attempts  to 
fly,  but  is  overtaken  by  Ercilla. 


CANTO  XXVIII. 

THE  fair  fugitive,  whom  our  Poet  describes  as  singularly  beau- 
tiful, relates  her  story.  She  tells  him  her  name  is  Glaura,  the 
daughter  of  an  opulent  Chieftain,  with  whom  she  lived  most  hap- 
pily, till  a  brother  of  her  father's,  who  frequently  resided  with  him, 
persecuted  her  with  an  unwarrantable  passion  ; — that  she  in  vain 
represented  to  him  the  impious  nature  of  his  love  ; — he  persisted 
in  his  frantick  attachment,  and,  on  the  appearance  of  a  hostile 
party  of  Spaniards,  rushed  forth  to  die  in  her  defence,  intreating 
her  to  receive  his  departing  spirit.  He  fell  in  the  action  ;  her  fa- 
ther shared  the  same  fate  :  she  herself  escaped  at  a  postern  gate 
into  the  woods.  Two  negroes,  laden  with  spoil,  discovered,  and 
seized  her.  Her  cries  brought  a  young  Indian,  named  Cariolano, 
to  her  rescue  :  he  shot  an  arrow  into  the  heart  of  the  first  ruffian, 
and  stabbed  the  second.  Glaura  expressed  her  gratitude  by  re- 
ceiving her  young  deliverer  as  her  husband.  Before  they  could 
I'egain  a  place  of  safety,  they  were  alarmed  by  the  approach  of 
Spaniards.  The  generous  Youth  intreated  Glaura  to  conceal  her- 
self in  a  tree,  while  he  ventured  to  meet  the  enemy.  In  her  teri-or 
she  submitted  to  this  expedient,  which,  on  recovery  from  her  pa- 
nick,  she  bitterly  repented  ;  for,  when  she  issued  from  her  retreat, 
she  sought  in  vain  for  Cariolano,  and  supposed,  from  the  clamour 
she  had  heard,  that  he  must  have  perished.  She  continued  to 
wander  in  this  wretched  state  of  mind,  still  unable  to  hear  any 
tidings  of  her  protector.  While  the  fair  Indian  thus  closes  her 
narrative,  Ercilla  is  alarmed  by  the  approach  of  a  large  party  of 
Barbarians.  One  of  his  faithful  Indian  attendants,  whom  he  had 
nitely  attached  to  him,  intreats  him  to  escape  with  the  utmoit 


62 


haste  ;  adding,  that  he  can  save  hun  from  pursuit  by  his  know- 
ledge of  the  country;  and  that  he  will  risque  his  own  life  most 
willingly,  to  preserve  that  of  Ercilla.  Glaura  bursts  into  an  agony 
of  joy,  in  discovering  her  lost  Cariolano  in  this  faithful  attendant* 
Ercilla  exclaims,  "  Adieu,  my  friends  ;  I  give  you  both  your  li- 
"  berty,  which  is  all  I  have  at  present  to  bestow,"  and  rejoins  his 
little  troop.  Before  he  enters  on  the  account  of  what  followed,  he 
relates  the  circumstance  by  which  he  attached  Cariolano  te  his 
service  ;  whom  he  had  found  alone,  as  he  himself  was  marching 
with  a  small  party,  and  a  few  prisoners  that  he  had  taken.  The 
Youth  at  first  defended  himself,  shot  two  Spaniards  with  his 
arrows,  and  continued  to  resist  the  numbers  that  pressed  upon  him 
with  his  mantle  and  his  dagger,  evading  their  blows  by  his  extreme 
agility,  and  wounding  several.  Ercilla  generously  rushed  into  his 
rescue,  and  declared  he  deserved  a  reward  for  his  uncommon 
bravery,  instead  of  being  destroyed  so  unfairly.  The  Youth,  in 
consequence  of  this  treatment,  flung  down  his  dagger,  and  became 
the  affectionate  attendant  of  Ercilla.  Our  Poet,  after  relating  this 
incident,  returns  to  the  scene  where  his  party  was  surprized  in  a 
hollow  road,  and  severely  galled  by  the  enemy,  who  attacked  them 
with  showers  of  stones  from  the  higher  ground.  Ercilla  forces  his 
way  up  the  precipice,  and  after  dispersingpart  of  the  Indian  force, 
effects  his  escape  with  a  few  followers;  but  all  are  wounded,  and 
obliged  to  leave  their  baggage  in  the  possession  of  their  numerous 
enemies. 


CANTO  XXIX. 

OPENS  with  an  encomium  on  the  love  of  our  country,  and  tlie 
signal  proofs  of  this  virtue  which  the  Araucanians  displayed  ; 
who,  notwithstanding  their  loss  of  four  great  battles  in  the  space 
of  three  months,  still  continue  firm  in  their  resolution  of  defending 
their  liberty.  Caupolican  proposes,  in  a  publick  assembly,  to  set 
fire  to  their  own  habitations,  and  leave  themselves  no  alternative, 
but  that  of  killing  or  being  killed.  The  Chieftains  all  agree  in  _ 
this  desperate  determination.  Tucapel,  before  they  proceed  to 
action  against  the  Spaniards,  insists  on  terniinatiug  his  difference 
with  Rengo,  a  rival  Chieftain,  by  a  single  combat.  A  plain  is  ap- 
pointed for  this  purpose  :  all  the  people  of  Arauco  assemble  as 
spectators  :  the  Chiefs  appear  in  complete  urmour,  and  engage  in 
a  most  olisliiiate  and  bloody  conflict. 


63 


CANTO  XXX. 

AFTER  many  dreadful  wounds  on  each  sido,  the  two  Chieftains, 
closing  with  each  otlier,  fall  together,  and,  after  a  fruitless  struggle 
for  victory,  remain  speechless  on  the  ground.  Caupolican,  who 
presided  as  judge  of  the  combat,  descends  from  his  seat,  and 
finding  some  signs  of  life  in  each,  orders  them  to  be  carried  to 
their  respective  tents.  Tliey  recover,  and  are  reconciled.  The 
Spaniards,  leaving  a  garrison  ia  their  new  fort,  under  a  captain 
named  Reynoso,  had  jjroceeded  to  the  city  of  Imperial.  Caupoli- 
can endeavours  to  take  advantage  of  this  event.  He  employs  an 
artful  Indian,  named  Pran,  to  examine  the  state  of  the  fort.  Pran 
insinuates  himself  among  the  Indian  servants  belonging  to  the 
Spaniards.  He  views  the  fort,  and  endeavours  to  persuade  a 
servile  Indian,  named  Andresillo,  to  admit  Caupolican  and  his 
forces  while  the  Spaniards  are  sleeping.  Andresillo  promises  to 
meet  Caupolican  in  secret,  and  converse  with  him  on  this  project. 


CANTO  XXXI. 

OPENS  with  a  spirited  invective  against  treachery  in  war,  and 
particularly  those  traitors  who  betray  their  country.  Andrt  sillo 
reveals  all  that  had  passed  to  his  Spanish  captain  ;  who  promises 
him  a  great  reward  if  he  will  assist  in  making  the  stratagem  of  the 
Indians  an  instrument  of  destruction  to  those  who  contrived  it. 
They  concert  a  plan  for  this  purpose.  Andresillo  meets  Caupoli- 
can in  secret,  and  promises  to  introduce  the  Indian  forces  into  the 
fort  when  the  Spaniards  are  sleeping  in  the  heat  of  the  day.  Pran 
is  sent  forward,  to  learn  from  Andresillo  if  ail  things  arc  quiet, 
just  before  the  hour  appointed  for  the  assault.  He  examines  the 
state  of  the  fort,  and,  finding  the  Spaniards  apparently  ur prepared 
for  defence,  hastens  back  to  the  Indian  General,  who  advances  by 
a  quick  and  silent  march.  The  Spaniards  in  the  interim  point  all 
their  guns,  and  prepare  for  the  n:o  t  bloody  resistance. 


CANTO  XXXII. 

AFTER  a  panegyrick  on  clemency,  and  a  ncb'c  censure  of  those 
enormous  cruelties,  by  which  his  countrymen  sullied  their  military 


64 

fame,  the  Poet  relates  the  dreadful  carnage  which  ensued  as  the 
Indians  approached  the  fort.  The  Spaniards,  after  destroying 
numbers  by  their  artillery,  send  foi'th  a  party  of  horse,  who  cut  the 
fugitives  to  pieces.  They  inhumanly  murder  thirteen  of  their 
most  distinguished  prisoners,  by  blowing  them  from  the  mouths  of 
cannon  :  but  none  of  the  confederate  Chieftains,  whom  the  Poet  has 
particularly  celebrated,  were  included  in  this  number  ;  for  those 
high-sj)irited  Barbarians  had  refused  to  attend  Caupolican  in 
this  assault,  as  they  considered  it  disgraceful  to  attack  their 
enemies  by  surprize.  The  unfortunate  Indian  Leader,  seeing  his 
forces  thus  unexpectedly  massacred,  escapes  with  ten  faithful  fol- 
lowers, and  wanders  through  the  country  in  the  most  calamitous 
condition.  The  Spaniards  endeavour,  by  all  the  means  they  can  de- 
vise, to  discover  his  retreat  ;  the  faithful  inhabitants  of  Arauco 
refuse  to  betray  him. 

Ercilla,  in  searching  the  country  with  a  small  party,  finds  a  young 
wounded  female.  She  inforras^him,  that  marching  with  her  husband, 
she  had  the  misfortune  of  seeing  him  perish  in  the  late  slaughter  ; 
that  a  friendly  soldier,  in  pity  to  her  extreme  distress,  had  tried  to 
end  her  miserable  life  in  the  midst  of  the  confusion,  but  had  failed 
in  his  generous  design,  by  giving  her  an  ineffectual  wound  :— that 
she  had  been  removed  from  the  field  of  battle  to  that  sequestered 
spot,  where  she  languished  in  the  hourly  hope  of  death,  which  she 
now  implores  from  the  hand  of  Ercilla.  Our  Poet  consoles  her; 
dresses  her  wound,  and  leaves  one  of  his  attendants  to  protect  her. 


CANTO  XXXIII. 

ONE  of  the  prisoners,  whom  the  Spaniards  had  taken  in  their 
search  after  Caupolican,  is  at  last  tempted  by  bribes  to  betray  his 
General.  He  conducts  the  Spaniards  to  a  spot  near  the  sequester- 
ed retreat  of  this  unfortunate  Chief,  and  directs  them  how  to  dis- 
cover it  ;  but  refuses  to  advance  with  them,  overcome  by  his  dread 
of  the  Hero  whom  he  is  tempted  to  betray.  The  Spaniards  sur- 
round the  house  in  which  the  Chieftain  had  taken  refuge  with  his 
ten  faitliful  associates.  Alarmed  by  acentinel,  he  prepares  for  de- 
fence ;  but  being  soon  wounded  in  the  arm,  surrenders,  endeavour- 
ing to  conceal  his  high  character,  and  to  make  the  Spaniards  be- 
lieve him  an  ordinîiry  soldier. 


65 

With  their  accustom'd  shouts,  and  greedy  toil, 
Our  furious  troops  now  riot  in  their  spoil  ; 
Through  the  lone  village  their  quick  rapine  spread, 
Nor  leave  unpillag'd  e'en  a  single  shed  : 
When,  from  a  tent,  that,  plac'd  on  safer  ground, 
The  neighbouring  hill's  uncultur'd  summit  crown'd, 
A  woman  rush'd,  who,  in  her  hasty  fiight. 
Ran  through  the  roughest  paths  along  the  rocky  height. 
A  Negro  of  our  train,  who  mark'dher  way, 
Soon  made  the  hapless  fugitive  his  prey  ; 
For  thwarting  crags  her  doubtful  steps  impede, 
And  the  fair  form  was  ill  prepar'd  for  speed  ; 
For  at  her  breast  she  bore  her  huddled  son  ; 
To  fifteen  months  the  infant's  life  had  run  : 
From  our  brave  captive  sprung  the  blooming  boy, 
Of  both  his  parents  the  chief  pride  and  joy.    • 
The  Negro  carelessly  his  victim  brought. 
Nor  knew  th'  important  prize  his  haste  had  caught 

Our  soldiers  now,  to  catch  the  cooling  tide, 
Had  sallied  to  the  murmuring  river's  side  : 
When  the  unhappy  Wife  beheld  het*  Lord, 
His  strong  arms  bound  with  a  disgraceful  cord, 
Striptofeach  ensign  of  his  past  command. 
And  led  the  pris'ner  of  our  shouting  band  ; 
Her  anguish  burst  not  into  vain  complaint, 
No  female  terrors  her  firm  soul  attaint  ; 
But,  breathing  fierce  disdain,  and  anger  wild. 
Thus  she  exclaim'd,  advancing  with  her  child  : 

The  stronger  arm  that  in  this  shameful  band 
Has  tied  thy  weak  effeminated  hand, 
Had  nobler  pity  to  thy  state  exprest 
If  it  had  bravely  pierc'd  that  coward  breast. 
Wert  thou  the  Warrior  whose  heroick  worth 
So  swiftly  flew  around  the  spacious  earth, 
Whose  name  alone,  unaided  by  thy  arm. 
Shook  the  remotest  climes  with  fear's  alarm  ? 
Wert  thou  the  Victor  whose  triumphant  strain 
Promis'd  with  rapid  sword  to  vanquish  Spain  ; 
To  make  new  realms  Arauco's  power  revere. 
And  spread  her  empire  o'er  the  Arctick  sphere  ? 
Wretch  that  I  am  !  how  was  my  heart  deceiv'd) 
In  all  the  noble  pride  with  which  itheav'd, 
Vol.  H  I 


65 

When  through  the  world  my  boasted  title  rah, 

Tresia,  the  wife  of  grciit  Caupolican  ! 

Now,  plung'd  in  misery  from  the  heights  of  fame, 

My  glories  end  in  this  detested  shame, 

To  see  thee  captive  in  a  lonely  spot, 

When  death  and  honour  might  have  been  thy  lot  ? 

What  now  avail  thy  scenes  of  happier  strife, 
So  dearly  bought  by  many  a  nobler  life^ 
The  wond'rous  feats,  that  valour  scarce  believ'd, 
By  thee  with  hazard  and  with  toil  atchiev'd  ? 
Where  are  the  vaunted  fruits  of  thy  command, 
The  laurels  gather'd  by  this  fetter'd  hand  ? 
All  sunk  !  all  turn'd  to  this  abhorr'tl  disgrace, 
To  live  the  slave  of  this  ignoble  race  1 
Say,  had  thy  soul  no  strength,  thy  hand  no  lance, 
To  triumph  o'er  the  fickle  pow'r  of  chance  ? 
Dost  thou  not  knov/,  that,  to  the  Warrior's  name, 
A  gallant  exit  gives  immortal  fame  ? 

Behold  the  burthen  which  my  breast  contains, 
Since  of  thy  love  no  other  pledge  remains  ! 
Had'st  thou  in  glory's  arms  resign'dthy  breathy 
We  both  had  follow'd  thee  in  joyous  death  : 
Take,  take  thy  son  !  he  was  a  tie  most  dear, 
Which  spotless  love  once  made  my  heart  revere  ; 
Take  him  ! — by  generous  pain,  and  wounded  pride, 
The  currents  of  this  fruitful  breast  are  dried  : 
Rear  him  thyself,  for  thy  gigantic  frame. 
To  woman  turn'd,  a  woman's  charge  may  claim  : 
A  mother's  title  I  no  more  desire. 
Or  shameful  children  from  a  shameful  sire  ! 

As  thus  she  spoke,  with  growing  madness  stung, 
The  tender  nursling  from  her  arms  she  flung 
With  savage  fury,  hast'ningfrom  our  sight, 
While  anguish  scem'd  to  aid  her  rapid  flight. 
Vain  were  our  efforts  ;  our  indignant  cries. 
Nor  gentle  prayers,  nor  angry  threats,  suffice 
To  make  her  breast,  where  cruel  frenzy  burn'd, 
Receive  the  little  innocent  she  spurn'd. 

The  Spaniards,  after  providing  a  nurse  for  this  unfortunate  child, 
return  with  their  prisoner  Caupolican  to  their  fort,  which  they 
enter  in  triumph. 


67 

The  Indian  Geneva!,  perceiving  that  all  attempts  to  conceal  his 
fjuality  are  ineffectual,  desires  a  conference  with  the  Spanish  Cup- 
tain  Reynoso. 


CANTO  XXXIV.. 

CAUPOLICAN  entreats  Reynoso  to  grant  his  life,  !)ut  without 
any  signs  of  terror.  He  affirms  it  v/ill  be  the  only  meihod  of  ap- 
peasing the  sanguinary  hatred  by  which  the  contending  nations  are 
inflamed  ;  and  he  offers,  from  his  great  influence  over  his  country, 
to  introduce  the  Ciiristian  worship,  and  to  briug  the  Araucaniaiis 
to  consider  tliemselves  as  the  subjects  of  the  Spanish  Monarch.  His 
proposals  are  rejected,  and  he  is  sentenced  to  be  impaled,  and  shot 
to  death  with  arrows.  He  is  unappall'd  by  this  decree  ;  but  first 
desires  to  be  publickiy  baptized  :  after  which  ceremony,  he  is  in- 
humanly led  in  chains  to  a  scaffold.  He  displays  a  calm  contempt 
of  death  ;  but,  on  seeing  a  wretched  Negro  appointed  his  execu- 
tioner, his  indignation  bui-sts  forth,  and  he  hurls  the  Negro  from  the 
scaffold,  entreating  to  die  by  a  more  honourable  hand.  His  horrid 
sentence  is  however  executed.  He  supports  the  agonies  of  the 
stake  with  patient  intrepidity,  till  a  chosen  band  of  archers  put  a 
period  to  his  life. 

The  brave  Ercilla  expresses  his  abhorrence  of  this  atrocious 
scene  ;  and  adds,  that  if  he  had  been  present,  this  cruel  execution 
should  not  have  taken  place. 

The  consequence  of  it  was  such  as  Caupolican  Foretold  : — the 
Araucanians  determine  to  revenge  his  death,  and  assemble  to  elect 
a  new  General.  The  Poet  makes  an  abrupt  transition  from  their 
debate,  to  relate  the  adventures  of  Don  Garcia,  with  whom  he  was 
himself  marching  to  explore  new  regions.  The  inhabitants  of  the 
districts  they  invade,  alarmed  at  the  approach  of  the  Spaniards, 
consult  on  the  occasion.  An  Indian,  named  Tunconabala,  who 
had  served  under  the  Araucanians,  addresses  the  assembly,  and 
recommends  to  them  a  mode  of  eluding  the  supposed  avaricious 
designs  of  the  Spaniards,  by  sending  messengers  to  them,  who 
should  assume  an  appearance  of  extreme  poverty,  and  represent 
their  country  as  barren,  and  thus  induce  the  invaders  to  turn  their 
arms  towards  a  different  quarter.  He  oflTers  to  engage  in  this  ser- 
vice himself.  The  Indians  adopt  the  project  he  recommends,  and 
remove  their  valuable  effects  to  the  interior  parts  of  their  country. 


68 

CANTO  XXXV. 

DON  GARCIA  being  arrived  at  the  boundaries  of  Chili,  which 
no  Spaniard  had  passed,  encourages  his  soldiers,  in  a  spii'ited  ha- 
rangue, to  the  acquisition  of  the  new  provinces  which  lay  before 
them.  They  enter  a  rude  and  rocky  country,  in  which  they  are 
exposed  to  many  hazards  by  their  deceitful  guides.  Tunconabala 
meets  them,  as  he  had  projected,  with  the  appearance  of  extreme 
poverty  ;  and,  after  many  assurances  of  the  sterility  of  that  region, 
advises  them  to  return,  or  to  advance  by  a  different  path,  which  he 
represents  to  them  as  dangerous,  but  the  only  practicable  road. 
On  finding  them  resolved  to  press  forward,  he  supplies  them  with 
a  g\iidc.  They  advance,  with  great  toif  and  danger.  Their  guide 
escapes  from  them.  They  continue  their  march,  through  various 
hardships,  in  a  desolate  region.  They  at  length  discover  a  fertile 
plain,  and  a  large  lake  with  many  little  inhabited  islands.  As  they 
approach  the  lake,  a  large  gondola,  with  twelve  oars,  advances  to 
meet  them  :  the  party  it  contained  leap  ashoi'e,  and  salute  the 
Spaniards  with  expressions  of  amity. 


CANTO  XXXVI. 

THE  young  Chieftain  of  the  gondola  supplies  the  Spaniards  with 
provisions,  I'efusing  to  accept  any  reward  :  and  our  Poet  celebrates 
all  the  inhabitants  of  this  region,  for  their  amiable  simplicity  of 
manners.  He  visits  one  of  the  principal  islands,  where  he  is 
kindly  entertained.  He  discovers  that  the  lake  had  a  communica- 
tion with  the  sea,  by  a  very  rough  and  dangerous  channel  :  this 
circumstance  obliges  the  Spaniards,  though  reluctant,  to  return. 
They  lament  the  necessity  of  passing  again  through  the  hardships 
of  their  former  road.  A  young  Indian  undertakes  to  conduct  them 
by  an  easier  way.  But  our  adventurous  Ercilla,  before  the  little 
army  set  forth  on  their  return,  engages  ten  chosen  associates  to 
embark  with  him  in  a  small  vessel,  and  pass  the  dangerous  chan- 
nel. He  lands  on  a  wild  and  sandy  spot,  and,  advencing  half  a 
mile  up  the  countiy,  engraves  a  stanza,  to  record  this  adventure, 
<in  the  bark  of  a  tree.  He  repasses  the  channel,  and  rejoins  the 
Spanish  troops;  who,  after  much  difficulty,  reach  the  city  of 
Imperial. 

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